Cattesbray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Cattesbray surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived 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 Cattesbray family

The surname Cattesbray 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 Cattesbray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cattesbray 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 Cattesbray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cattesbray 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 Cattesbray include Catesby, Catesbury, Cates and others.

Early Notables of the Cattesbray 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 Cattesbray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cattesbray family

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: 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.