Desselles is one of the oldest family names to come from the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from the baptismal name Silvester or Silvanus. During the middle Ages this personal name was quite popular, as it was borne by three popes. In the religious naming tradition surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.
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Early Origins of the Desselles family
The surname Desselles was first found in Northamptonshire where they held a family seat from ancient times.
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Early History of the Desselles family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Desselles research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1637 is included under the topic Early Desselles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Desselles Spelling Variations
Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Desselles has undergone many spelling variations, including Sill, Sille, Sills, Silles, Sell, Selle, Sells and many more.
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Early Notables of the Desselles family
More information is included under the topic Early Desselles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Desselles family
To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Desselles were among those contributors: John Sill who settled in Massachusetts in 1637; Joseph Sill arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1825; Louis Sill arrived in Philadelphia in 1855.
Contemporary Notables of the name Desselles (post 1700)
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Buster Wayne Desselles Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Texas State House of Representatives 12th District, 2000 1
England
