Damsel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Damsel family

The surname Damsel was first found in Yorkshire where Ralph Damisel, Dameisele was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1191 and 1204. Again in 1204, Henry Damisel was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for Gloucestershire. A few years later, Roger Damisele was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls for Berkshire in 1214. 1

"This surname is derived from a nickname. 'the damsel'; Old French damoisel, a young squire or page." 2

The Hundredorum Rolls for 1273 had only one listing, that of Simon Damsell in Buckinghamshire while the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had two: Johannes Damysell; and Robertas Damsell. 2

Early History of the Damsel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Damsel research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1535, 1553, 1555, 1582 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Damsel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Damsel Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Damsel, Damisell, Damsell, Damysell, Densell and others.

Early Notables of the Damsel family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir William Damsell, who was knighted on October 2nd, 1553 at Westminster at the Coronation of Queen Mary in the presence of the Queen by the Earl of Arundel who was commissioned to knight those prese...
Samuel Damsell was a customs officer who rode from Lyme to London, arriving on 13 June 1685, having ridden 200 miles (322 km) during the Monmouth Rebellion

Migration of the Damsel family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)