Catesburay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Catesburay comes from the family having resided in Catesby, in Northants, now Northamptonshire. 1

"The family had been for some time settled in Northamptonshire, and held also the manor of Lapworth in Warwickshire. " 2

The "Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I." had two early listing for the family: Robert de Catesby, Northamptonshire, Henry III-Edward I; and William de Cattesby, Northamptonshire. 3

Early Origins of the Catesburay family

The surname Catesburay was first found in Northampton at Asbhy St. Ledger's, a parish, in the union of Daventry, hundred of Fawsley. "The church [of Asbhy St. Ledger's] is in the later English style; it contains a richly ornamented screen and rood-loft, and in the windows are some remains of ancient painted glass. Sir William Catesby, favourite of Richard III., and owner of the manor, was buried within the altar-rails, under a marble slab with a rich brass in fine preservation; and Robert Catesby, the conspirator, of the time of James I., resided here, where he had property." 4

"William Catesby (d. 1485), councillor of Richard III, of whom, and others, the couplet was written: 'The Cat, the Rat, and Lovel our dog Rule all England under a hog,' was son of Sir William Catesby, of Ashby St. Legers, Northamptonshire." 3

Early History of the Catesburay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Catesburay research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1371, 1449, 1450, 1453, 1459, 1478, 1484, 1485, 1573, 1605, 1679, 1710, 1719 and 1749 are included under the topic Early Catesburay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Catesburay Spelling Variations

Catesburay has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Catesby, Catesbury, Cates and others.

Early Notables of the Catesburay family

Notables of this surname at this time include: William Catesby, High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1371; Sir William Catesby (1450-1485), English landowner and Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in 1484, one of Richard III of England's principal councillors, he also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Speaker of the House of Commons; William Catesby (died 1478), English landowner and Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire, 1449, 1453; William Catesby of Ashby St Ledgers, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1459; Sir John Catesby of Seton, Justice of the Common Pleas. Robert Catesby (1573-1605), was the leader of a group of Catholic conspirators...
Another 138 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Catesburay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Catesburay family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Catesburays to arrive on North American shores: John Catesby who settled in Virginia in 1623; Jane Catesby settled there in 1635; followed by Robert in 1654.

Citations +

Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. 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.