Show ContentsCastleberry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The many generations and branches of the Castleberry family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a person who worked in a castle. The original bearer of the surname Castleberry may have held the post of governor or constable of the castle. However, the surname might also be derived from residence near a castle, or from services or rent owed to a castle. The surname Castleberry is derived from the Old Norman French word castel, which means castle. [1]

Early Origins of the Castleberry family

The surname CastleBerry was first found in Sussex where Richard and Robert Castel were first recorded 1148-54. They were descended from the Lords of Iystynton, and a few years later in 1201 John Castle held estates in Leicestershire. [2]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Alan de Castell, London; and Andrew de Castello, Norfolk. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls included Thomas de Castell; and Magota del Castell as holding lands there at that time. [3] The Household Book of Queen Isabelle listed Roger atte Castell in 1358 and Kirby's Quest included William atte Castle, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III. [4]

In Scotland, "Ricardus de Castello is mentioned in a charter by David I, c. 1142. Magister Peter de Castro witnessed a confirmation by Galfridus. bishop of Dunkeld, of the church of Madirnyn (Madderty) and lands of the Abthan of Maddirnyn in 1238. Normannus de Castello, burgess of Dundee, witnessed Ysabell de Brus's gift of her messuage of Cragyn near Dundee to the monks of Lundors, c. 1240. " [5]

Early History of the Castleberry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Castleberry research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1273, 1281, 1380, 1408, 1420, 1421, 1426, 1606, 1612, 1621, 1624, 1625, 1628, 1635, 1641, 1644, 1645, 1661, 1673, 1685, 1698 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Castleberry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Castleberry Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Castleberry were recorded, including Castle, Castell, Castles, Castel, Castello and others.

Early Notables of the Castleberry family

Notables of the family at this time include John Castell (a.k.a. John Castle (c.1380-1426), English academic, Master of University College, Oxford (c. 1408-1420), and later a Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1421-1426); and Edmund Castell (1606-1685), an English Orientalist from Tadlow, Cambridgeshire, Prebendary of Canterbury Cathedral and Professor of Arabic at Cambridge. He was "the second son of Robert Castell (probably of Christ's College, Cambridge), a man of property and education, and was born 'iratis Musis,' as he said, at East Hatley in Cambridgeshire in the year 1606, whence, after the usual grammatical training of the period, he proceeded in...
Another 126 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Castleberry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Castleberry Ranking

In the United States, the name Castleberry is the 3,516th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [6]


United States CastleBerry migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Castleberry family emigrate to North America:

Castleberry Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Henry Castleberry, who settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1709

Contemporary Notables of the name CastleBerry (post 1700) +

  • Clement Stewart Castleberry, American founder of Castleberry's Food Company, a Georgia based canned food company founded in the 1920s
  • Lt. Clinton Dillard Castleberry Jr. (1923-1944), American college football player, 1942 All-SEC, 2nd Team All-America and 3rd Place Heisman; he was killed in a B-26 bombing run
  • Robert W. Castleberry, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 8th District, 1933 [7]
  • Rex Castleberry, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arkansas, 1952 (alternate), 1956 [7]
  • Kelly L. Castleberry (b. 1926), American Democratic Party politician, Realtor; Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Kanawha County, 1961-66; Defeated, 1966; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from West Virginia, 1972 [7]

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Claude William Castleberry Jr., American Seaman First Class from Texas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [8]


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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