Ansbury History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestry of the name Ansbury dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the parish of Hanbury in Staffordshire, Herefordshire or Worcestershire; or in Handborough, a parish in Oxfordshire. Hanbury literally means "high or chief fortified place," from the Old English words "heah" + "burh." The Staffordshire parish dates back to c.1185 when it was first listed as Hambury. The Herefordshire and Worcestershire parishes date back to Saxon times as Heanburh c. 765 and later were listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 1 as Hambyrie. Handbourgh literally means "hill of a man called Hagena of Hana," from the Old English personal name + "beorg." In this case, it was listed in the Domesday Book as Haneberge. 2

Early Origins of the Ansbury family

The surname Ansbury was first found in Oxfordshire where in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, we found Walter de Haneber, or Haneberowe; and Robert de Haneberge listed at that time. The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum Roll that was taken during the reigns of Henry III-Edward I., Richard de Hanburgh was listed in Northamptonshire; Alex, de Haneburgo was in Staffordshire; and John de Haneber was listed in Oxfordshire. 3

Kirby's Quest listed Thomas de Haneberwe and John de Haneberwe in Somerset in the first year of Edward III reign. 4 Years later, Phillip de Handbury was listed as rector of Wells, Norfolk in 1327. 5

Later the Hanbury family held estates in Church Langton, Leicestershire where "the church is an ancient and stately structure in the decorated English style, of remarkably light and elegant design. The Rev. William Hanbury, for many years incumbent of the parish, and remarkable for his benevolence, and his taste for the cultivation of trees, of which he had extensive plantations, in 1767 bequeathed the profits arising from his nurseries at different periods, to trustees, for the erection of a splendid church in the parish, and for the endowment of colleges, schools, hospitals, and literary and charitable institutions of every description." 6 By 1837, these funds had realized over £6,421 since 1773 and is a trust that is still earning funds today.

Early History of the Ansbury family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ansbury research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1538, 1574, 1592, 1628, 1629, 1658, 1664, 1715 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Ansbury History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ansbury Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Ansbury have been found, including Hanbury, Hanby, Hinsbury, Hanbrogh, Hanbery and many more.

Early Notables of the Ansbury family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Hanbury (1574-1658), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Gloucester (1628-1629), supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; John...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ansbury Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ansbury family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Ansbury, or a variant listed above: Daniel Hanbury settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635; Nicholas Hanbury arrived in Barbados in 1680; William Hanbury settled in Boston in 1631; Richard Hanby settled in Barbados in 1634.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
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.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.