Foundlings

A foundling is an infant who has been abandoned by caregivers and subsequently found and taken into the care of others. The term comes from the English phrase “found child,” indicating that the child was discovered after being left somewhere to be cared for by strangers. Foundlings have appeared in many historical and cultural contexts, often linked to social stigma, illegitimacy, or poverty.

Historically, foundlings were commonly left at churches, monasteries, or charitable institutions and raised in orphanages or by foster families. In Europe, the emergence of floating or permanent foundling shelters and hospitals in the 17th through 19th centuries provided structured care, documentation, and sometimes adoption options. Notable examples include the Foundling Hospital in London, established in 1739 to care for abandoned children and to facilitate their placement with families.

In modern times, the term is less frequently used in official language. Legal arrangements vary by country, but many jurisdictions treat foundlings as wards of the state or as children of unknown parentage who may be placed in foster or adoptive families. Some regions operate safe haven laws or baby hatch programs allowing relinquishment to designated facilities with protections for birth parents and the child’s welfare, while maintaining opportunities to locate biological relatives when possible.

Culturally, foundlings have been the subject of literature, folklore, and ethical discussions about identity, origins, and parental rights. The study of foundlings intersects with child welfare policy, adoption practices, and genealogical research.