Fugate – Surname Saturday

Brown-Mannin-Fugate Line
By Don Taylor

Ancestry indicates that Fugate is most probably a variant of Fugett. Fugett is perhaps an adaption of Fuget, a topographic name from Fuge, a regional term for fougère ‘fern.’ Neither Forebears nor Genealogy Bank have a meaning for the name either.

Geographical

According to Forebears, nearly 98% of the World’s Fugates live in the United States. In the United States, the largest incidence and percentage of the population is in Kentucky. The state where my most recent Fugate ancestors lived.

Direct Fugate Ancestors

• • 4^th Great-grandmother:  105.  Rachel Fugate (1803-1870)
  • 5^th Great-grandfather:    210.  Reuben Fugate (c1783-1833)*[i]
  • 6^th Great-grandfather:    420.  Josiah Fugate (1740-1823)*
  • 7^th Great-grandfather:    840  Randolph Fugate (1715-1776)*
  • 8^th Great-grandfather:    1680.  Josias Fugate (___-c. 1757)*
  • 9^th Great-grandfather:   3360.  Peter Fugate (1650-c. 1695)*
  • 10^th Great-grandfather: 6720.  James Fugate (1630-1651)*

Historical

1840 – In 1840, Rachel had already married Meridith Mannin and had that surname. Her father, Reuben, died in Ralls, Missouri, in 1833; her grandparents had passed also. So, none of my Fugate ancestors were Fugates in 1840.

1650-1675 – Peter Fugate was born in France c. 1650. He died in Maryland sometime after 1695. He married Frances Mould about 1675 in Mosquito Creek, Baltimore County (now Harford County), Province of Maryland. Peter was my Immigrant Ancestor on this line.

Today

2014 – Snapshot in Time (Forebears)

Today, Fugates are mainly in the midsection of the United States, with nearly a third of them living in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Direct Descendants

I have 1187 known descendants of James Fugate in my tree; 111 Mannin/Mannings, 69 Browns, 60 Bryants, 48 Fugates, 43 Barnetts, 28 Horns; 22 Richmonds; 21 Osts, 20 Taylors, and many other surnames. One thousand eighty-six of those descendants are known descendants of Rachel Fugate. I have previously written about 4 of them:

• • • 4^th Great-grandfather:  Rachel Fugate (1803-1870)
    • 3^rd Great-grandfather:  Enoch Mannin (1823-1907)
    • 2^nd Great-grandfather:  John William Manning (1846-1888)
    • 1^st Great-grandfather:  Mary Elizabeth Manning(1878-1983)
    • Grandfather: Clifford Brown | aka Richard Earl Durand | aka Richard Earl Brown (1903-1990)

Ancestor Photographs

Richard Earl Brown	Mary Elizabeth (Manning) Brown	Enoch Mannin
Grandpa Brown	Great-Grandma Brown	3rd Great-Grandpa

Famous Fugates

The Fugates of Kentucky, commonly known as the “Blue Fugates,” are notable for having been carriers of a genetic trait that led to the blood disorder methemoglobinemia, which causes the appearance of blue-tinged skin.[ii]

I have not found any relationship between my Fugate ancestors and the “Blue Fugates.”

Sources

• Ancestry Surname Page: https://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts
• Forebears Surnames Page: https://forebear       s.io/surnames
• Ancestry – Don Taylor’s Roberts-Brown tree on Ancestry.
  

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Endnotes

[i] I have not had the opportunity to personally research these individuals. As such, their names and dates are tentative and/or speculative.

[ii] Internet Source: Wikipedia: “Blue Fugates.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Fugates

[iii] Internet Source: Facts and History “The Fugate Family.” https://factsandhistory.com/the-fugate-family/