Elsea History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Elsea has a rich and ancient history. It is an Anglo-Saxon name that was originally derived from the baptismal name Elsy, which was originally derived from the Old Norse word Aelfsige, which literally means elf-victory. Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames.

Early Origins of the Elsea family

The surname Elsea was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Elsea family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elsea research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Elsea History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elsea Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Elsea include Elsley, Elsey and others.

Early Notables of the Elsea family

More information is included under the topic Early Elsea Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elsea Ranking

In the United States, the name Elsea is the 17,369^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Elsea migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Elsea Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Gottfried Elsea, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906

The Elsea Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sans Dieu rien
Motto Translation: Without God, nothing.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/