Show ContentsAmbrister History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Ambrister came to England with the ancestors of the Ambrister family in the Norman Conquest in 1066. The surname Ambrister is for a arbalester, a person who either built or operated a 12th century variation of the medieval European crossbow named "arbalest." Derived from the Medieval French term, it actually dates back to Roman times when the crossbow was referred to as a "arcuballista."

Early Origins of the Ambrister family

The surname Ambrister was first found in Norfolk, where they held a family seat after 1066.

Early History of the Ambrister family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ambrister research. Another 209 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1140, 1198, 1273, 1278, 1296, 1565, 1567, 1624, 1640 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Ambrister History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ambrister Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Arblaster, Arblast, Alablaster, Alabaster, Allblaster, Arbalistrius, Arbalistarius, Albalistarius, Arbelestre, Aleblaster, Allyblaster, Arbalister, Arbelaster and many more.

Early Notables of the Ambrister family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Geoffrey Arbalister, a prominent 12th century landholder in Essex; and William Alabaster (also Alablaster, Arblastier) (1567-1640), an English poet...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ambrister Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ambrister family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Ambrister or a variant listed above were: who migrated to North America before the 19th century and contributed to the development of a new society.



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