IS your name Fairfax, like the fiery 'Black Tom', Oliver Cromwell's right-hand general and besieger of Raglan Castle?

If it is, or if there are Fairfaxes in your family tree, then the geneological society that traces the origins and migration of the ancient name throughout the globe would like to shake hands.

Diligent researcher of the family line in Gwent is John Hicks, a retired engineer and salesman who is heir to one of the most famous names in English history on his mother's side.

Mr Hicks was born at Machen 73 years ago, the son of John Herbert Hicks and Florence Fairfax who was born at Baldwin Street in Pill in 1890 and who died in 1966 at Machen.

"The story of the Fairfaxes is a long and interesting one with major naval and military figures mixed in with ordinary working people. There is also a suggestion of Churchillian blood," he says.

"The Fairfaxes arrived in South Wales around 1845 as farm labourers coming down from Warwickshire. The first recorded Gwent Fairfax is William, who married Elizabeth Churchill on December 18, 1829. I am given to understand they lived at Coed Kernew where they are both buried in the parish church.

"Elizabeth is reputed to be of the Churchills of Blenheim Palace who ran away with William and established the Gwent line. They brought two sons down from the Midlands one of them, Samuel, being my great-great-grandfather.

"My grandfather, Alfred, lived at Bassaleg and worked as a coal trimmer in the docks at Newport. With Sarah Pring he had eight children one of whom was Arthur Denford Fairfax who was was banned from just about every rugby field in the area because he scouted for rugby league in the North.

"Samuel, another of the brothers, played rugby and baseball for Pill Harriers - until his brother 'took him North', that is - and a third brother, Stanley, was a trainer for Newport County before and just after the last war.

"Florence, my mother, is the eldest daughter of Samuel and Sarah."

The Fairfaxes can trace their earliest ancestry to the Norse incursions. By the 1200s the family was established in the North and Midlands of England.

But by far the most illustrious of the tribe is Sir Thomas Fairfax, known as 'Black Tom', a founder of Parliament's New Model Army during the English Civil War and a trusted general of the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell.

He was appointed Captain-General of the New Model Army in 1645.

Mr Hicks says: "Our early ancestor was here during the English Civil War laying siege to Raglan castle.

"Black Tom was a swashbuckling figure who fought on the side of the Dutch against the Spaniards while still only 17 and rose to prominence under Cromwell.

"The annual meeting of the Fairfax Society is being held at the King's Head at Newport at 2.30pm on Saturday, September 18, and anyone who has a connection with the family is welcome."