The name Fairchild is of Old English origin and its meaning is 'fair-haired child' or 'handsome child' or 'handsome youth of noble birth'. The objectives of the Fairchild Surname project are: 1. To determine how many closely related groups bear the study surnames 2. To determine the most likely localities of origin for these groups. 3. To help provide missing links in the genealogy of participants in the study. 4. To help establish connections for closely related families. Scholarships are available ( contact the Fairchild project administrator).