Anvers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Anvers was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Anvers family lived in Norfolk. "William Denvers, evidently one of the Conqueror's adherents, occurs in the Norfolk Domesday; and genealogists assert that a Roland D'Anvers assisted at the Conquest. " 1

They were originally from Anvers, Belgium, which is the French form of the name of the city of Antwerp. 2

Early Origins of the Anvers family

The surname Anvers was first found in Norfolk where "this name, taken from the town of Anvers, was born by Roland D'Anvers, who came thence to the conquest of England. He was ancestor of the families of D'Anvers or Culworth, raised to the degree of baronets in 1642, of D'Anvers of Dantsey, ennobled under the title of Danby, and D'Anvers of Horley." 3

Early census records revealed Ralph de Anuers, Danuers in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1230. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Ralph de Anvers in Oxfordshire. 4

Early History of the Anvers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Anvers research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1428, 1459, 1460, 1504, 1545, 1568, 1573, 1588, 1601, 1624, 1630, 1643, 1655, 1659, 1660, 1668, 1674 and 1725 are included under the topic Early Anvers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Anvers Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Danvers, D'Anvers, Denvers, Denver, Danver, Danvis and many more.

Early Notables of the Anvers family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

John Danvers, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University (1459-1460)
William Danvers SL JP (1428-1504), a British judge
Sir John Danvers (1588-1655), an English politician, one of the signatories of the death warrant of Charles
Sir Charles Danvers (c. 1568-1601), an English soldier who plotted against Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth Danvers née Neville, later Elizabeth Carey (c. 1545-1630), an English noblewoman
Robert Danvers also Wright, Howard and Villiers (1624-1674), English illegitimate child who held at least four different surnames who became a politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 16...
Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby, KG (1573-1643), an English soldier, one time outlaw who later became a Knight of the Garter

Migration of the Anvers family to Ireland

Some of the Anvers 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.

Migration of the Anvers family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Anvers or a variant listed above: Richard Danvers who arrived in Philadelphia in 1844 with his brother Thomas; R. Denviers settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1823.

The Anvers Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Forte en loyalte
Motto Translation: Brave in loyalty.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, 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)