Show ContentsVenator History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Venator family

The surname Venator was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where "seven tenants in capite, some of them obviously of Saxon origin-appear under this name in Domesday: Croch Venator in Hampshire; Godric Venator in Wiltshire; Godvinus Venator in Dorsetshire; Ricardus Venator in Warwickshire; Siward Venator in Oxfordshire; Walerannus Venator in Hampshire and Wiltshire; and Wlwi Venator in Surrey. Siward and Waleran are also found among the under-tenants (in Hampshire). These latter add five additional names to this already long list: Gislebertus (also entered as De Venables) Ralph, and Warniund Venator in Cheshire; Robertus Venator in Warwickshire; and Rogerus Venator in Worcestershire and Shropshire. They are all unmistakably Norman." 1 2

Early History of the Venator family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Venator research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1106, 1389, 1432, 1510, 1574, 1577, 1600, 1606, 1615, 1637, 1657, 1660 and 1661 are included under the topic Early Venator History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Venator Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Venator have been found, including Vennor, Venour, Vennour, Venner, Venor, Vener, Vennour, Venore, Fennor, Fennour and many more.

Early Notables of the Venator family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Richard Vennar or Vennard (d. 1615?), an English author, the younger son of John Vennar of Salisbury, a commissioner of the peace. "In 1606 Vennar was arrested on suspicion of an intention to defraud Sir John Spencer of 500l. on pretence of preparing a masque under the patronage of Sir John Watts, the lord mayor. After that he avoided London, and lived chiefly in Essex and Kent. " 3Tobias Venner (1577-1660), was an English medical writer, was born 'of honest parents' at Petherton, Somerset.Over in the New World, Thomas Venner (d. 1661), was...
Another 156 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Venator Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Venator family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. 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 Venator were among those contributors: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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