Danse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

The Danse family is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the baptismal name for the "son of Daniel," or it could have been from the Anglo-Saxon word Dense, meaning Danish. 1

Early Origins of the Danse family

The surname Danse was first found in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list some of the first entries of the family: Amicia Daunce; Thomas Danse; and Willelmus Daunse. 2

In Bedfordshire, early records there show William Daunce in the Assize Rolls of 1247. Robert Daunce appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1301 and Robert del la Daunce was listed in 1305 and "was probably a professional dancer, chief of ‘a dancing party’, a meaning recorded c. 1385." 3

Early History of the Danse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Danse research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1700, 1741, 1748, 1755, 1761, 1768, 1775, 1790, 1793, 1800, 1825, 1827 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Danse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Danse 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 Danse include Dance, Danse and others.

Early Notables of the Danse family

Notables of this surname at this time include: George Dance the Elder (1700-1768), English architect and surveyor to the corporation of London. He designed the Mansion House and many of the churches and public buildings of the city during the earlier half of the eighteenth century. One of his sons, George Dance the Younger (1741-1825), was also an architect of note. He was the fifth and youngest son of George Dance the Elder. He "learnt his profession in his father's office. He spent also some time in France and Italy, and studied in Rome. He was a member of the Incorporated...
Another 135 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Danse Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Danse family to Ireland

Some of the Danse family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Danse 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:

Danse Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Danse, who landed in Virginia in 1657 4

Danse Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A M Danse, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1865 4

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)