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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The history of the name English begins in the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for a Englishman, so nicknamed for a person from England. The name English comes from the Old English word "Englisc," originally used to describe the Angles as distinct from the Saxons. One document in referrring to a raid in 1541, mentions the attacking party were 'to the number of fifty-two Inglimen. The name was probably used to refer to "Non Welsh" in the border counties in that region, "Non-Celtic Scot" in the Scottish-England borderlands, and "Non-Dane" in the Danelaw regions.

Another source notes the name is "borne by numerous Norman families. Adam, Alexander, Alvered, Asceline, Bernard, Henry, Elias, Gaufrid, and twenty more, bore, 1180-95, the name of Anglicus in Normandy (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). Twenty-four of the name of Anglicus are mentioned in 1198 The families of English or Inglis are all Norman. 'England’ is another form of Anglicus." 1

And finally we must include the following: " ‘English’, originally referring to Angles as distinct from Saxons, a meaning not to be considered for the surname. Inglis is a Scottish form denoting an Englishman as opposed to the Scottish borderer or the Celtic Scot, whilst the northern English probably referred to an Englishman living among Strathclyde Welsh. But the name was not confined to this district. In the Welsh border counties the name would be given to an Englishman in a preponderatingly Welsh community. For some generations after the Conquest an official distinction was made between Angli and Franci, the native, defeated English and the conquering Normans, and this may account for the name in Essex, Kent and Sussex, where it was probably at first derogatory. At the end of the 13th century l’Englois is found as a surname in Paris and this, given by Frenchmen in France, may well have been retained when the emigrant returned home. " 2

Early Origins of the English family

The surname English was first found in Herefordshire where Gillebertus Anglicus was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1171. 2 William le Englich was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Walter Ingeleys, Oxfordshire and Roger Ingleys was listed in the Writs of Parliament c. 1300. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes Inglays as holding lands there at that time. 4

Further to the south in the parish of Whitstone, Cornwall, "the manor of Wadfast belonged to a family named L'Engleis, or English, so early as the reign of Edward III. " 5

One source claims there is good evidence that the family lived near Winkleigh Tracy, Devon. At one time, there were two castles, "but there is no trace of either now, beyond a couple of mounds, which may have been the foundations. It is quite possible that one of those 'castles' may have been the mansion at Up Holecombe, which Richard Inglish had the licence of the King to castellate about 1361, especially as one of the mounds above mentioned is very doubtful." 6

Early History of the English family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our English research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1153, 1171, 1205, 1208, 1269, 1296, 1311, 1478, 1564, 1630, 1660, 1683, 1686, 1687, 1688, 1689, 1693, 1703, 1714, 1718, 1734, 1771, 1772, 1786, 1799, 1801, 1816, 1817, 1855, 1890 and 1942 are included under the topic Early English History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

English Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like English are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name English include: Inglis, Inglish, Inglys, English, Englys and others.

Early Notables of the English family

Distinguished members of the family include Archibald Inglis (b. circa 1630), an ordained minister, who was Rector of Glasow University from 1686-1689; Sir James Inglis of Cramond, who was created a Baronet in...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early English Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

English World Ranking

In the United States, the name English is the 649th most popular surname with an estimated 44,766 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name English is ranked the 943rd most popular surname with an estimated 5,761 people with that name. 8 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name English is the 285th popular surname with an estimated 157 people with that name. 9 Australia ranks English as 569th with 6,763 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks English as 717th with 9,341 people. 11

Ireland Migration of the English family to Ireland

Some of the English family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States English migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name English or a variant listed above:

English Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas English, (d. 1621), who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the "Mayflower" 12
  • Annie English, who landed in Virginia in 1622 12
  • James English, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 12
  • Richard English, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "James" 12
  • John English, who settled in Virginia in 1623
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
English Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William English, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 12
  • Charles English, who landed in Virginia in 1704 12
  • Margery English, who landed in Virginia in 1713 12
  • Theodosia English, who landed in Virginia in 1714 12
English Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Isabella English, aged 32, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 12
  • Alexander English, who arrived in South Carolina in 1803 12
  • Richard F English, who arrived in Maryland in 1807 12
  • Edward English, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1812 12
  • Mr. English, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada English migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

English Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John English, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1757 13
  • Samuel English, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
  • Mr. Andrew English U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 14
English Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Jeremiah English, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1811
  • Mary English, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1833
  • Thomas English, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Trafalgar" from Galway, Ireland
  • Elizabeth English, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Trafalgar" from Galway, Ireland
  • James English, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1837
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia English migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

English Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary English, (b. 1781), aged 32, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. Thomas English, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. James English, (b. 1815), aged 21, British servant who was convicted in Cape Town, South Africa for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Mr. William English, English convict who was convicted in Newcastle upon Tyne (Newcastle), Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, England for life, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 27th August 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 18
  • Mr. William English, English convict who was convicted in Ipswich, Suffolk, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 25th June 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1842 19
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand English migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

English Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joseph English, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 20
  • Mr. William English, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 1st December 1852 21
  • J. English, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 22
  • Mr. J. English, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 20
  • Miss Sarah English, (b. 1864), aged Infant, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st January 1865 20
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name English (post 1700) +

  • Fanita English (1916-2022), Romanian-born American psychoanalyst and psychotherapist
  • Kim English (1970-2019), American electronica, soul, gospel, and house music singer, from Chicago, Illinois
  • Joe English (b. 1949), American musician, former drummer for Paul McCartney's band Wings
  • CariDee English (b. 1985), American fashion model
  • Brigadier-General Paul Xavier English (1888-1964), American Assistant Chief of Staff 7th Service Command (1944-1946) 23
  • James Edward English (1812-1890), American statesman, Governor of Connecticut and US Senator
  • William Hayden English (1822-1896), American Democratic politician, Representative from Indiana (1853-1861)
  • Thomas Dunn English (1819-1902), American physician
  • Sir John Hawker English (1788-1840), English physician who entered the employment of the king of Sweden as surgeon, and became surgeon-in-chief to the Swedish army
  • John Cogal "Jack" English (1886-1953), English footballer and manager from Hebburn, County Durham
  • ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
RMS Lusitania

Suggested Readings for the name English +

  • English Family History by Nadine English Watson.
  • English-Robertson Families in America by Arthur Leslie Keith.
  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. 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.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  6. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  9. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  10. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  13. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  14. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  15. Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emily
  20. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, February 29) Paul English. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/English/Paul_Xavier/USA.html
  24. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
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