Atbarrow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Atbarrow family

The surname Atbarrow was first found in Nottinghamshire at Attenborough, a village and a suburb in the Broxtowe borough which dates back to the 12th century when it was listed as Adinburcha. 1 The place name literally means "stronghold associated with a man called Adda or Aeddi," having derived from the Old English personal name + "ing" + "burh." 2

Bardsley also presumes the name could have been from "Attleburgh, a town in Norfolk I have placed Attenborough and Atterbury together, as they have probably become confused in the course of centuries. In any case Atterbury represents the older Attleburgh." 1

To confuse matters more, another learned author notes "these surnames can hardly derive from Attenborough (Notts), earlier Adinburcha, which was not a village in the Middle Ages, the name being that of a church only. They are probably all from ME 'atten' plus the dative of OE bearu 'a grove' or beorg 'hill, mound'. The second element was, as often, changed to borough through association with burh. Hence 'dweller by the grove, hill or mound'." 3

In an attempt to clear this confusion and explore other sources in this matter, the lion's share seem to agree with the former's origin of the name. They include: Lower 4, Barber 5 and Guppy 6.

We must look to Cambridgeshire to find the first record of the family in the year 1273, Alicia, Margeret and Richard Atteburwe who both appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls at that time. 1

Early History of the Atbarrow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Atbarrow research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1680, 1701 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Atbarrow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Atbarrow Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Atbarrow has been spelled many different ways, including Ateenborough, Atterbury, Attenbarrow, Attenborrow, Attenbrough, Attenbrow, Attenburrow, Addenbury, Addenborough, Addenbrow, Addenborrow, Atborough, Attborough, Atborow, Atbarow and many more.

Early Notables of the Atbarrow family

Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Atbarrow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Atbarrow family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Atbarrows to arrive in North America: Thomas Attenborow, who settled in Virginia in 1657; Francis Attenborough, who arrived in America as an emigrant in bondage in 1738; James Attenborough, who was naturalized in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1882.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.