Contents [hide]

Dancer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Dancer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The surname Dancer is a ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Some instances of the surname are thought to have evolved from Middle English, Old French word "dance," meaning "dance;" and was an occupational name for a dancer or acrobat. 1 Some of this surname are thought to have evolved from the place name Ancere, in Normandy. 2

Early Origins of the Dancer family

The surname Dancer was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which included: Hervey le Dansur, Norfolk; and Ralph Danser, Gloucestershire. 1 Over in Somerset, William le Dauncer was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of Edward III.) 3

Early History of the Dancer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dancer research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1662, 1675, 1689, 1699, 1703, 1716, 1734, 1736, 1768, 1776, 1794, 1806, 1843, 1852, 1872 and 1933 are included under the topic Early Dancer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dancer Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Dancer family name include Dancer, Dansur, Danser, Dansar and others.

Early Notables of the Dancer family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Daniel Dancer (1716-1794), the English miser, born at Pinner in 1716. "His grandfather and father were both noted in their time as misers, and are only less known to fame because their accumulation of...
John Dancer (fl. 1675), was an English translator and dramatist, who "lived for some time in Dublin, where two of his dramatic translations were performed with some success at the Theatre Royal. " (NB...

Dancer Ranking

In the United States, the name Dancer is the 12,447^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Dancer family to Ireland

Some of the Dancer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 124 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dancer migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Dancer family to immigrate North America:

Dancer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Dancer, who settled in Virginia in 1731
William Dancer, who settled in Maryland in 1774
Brill Dancer who settled in Maryland in 1775

Dancer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dancer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Dancer, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5

Dancer migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 6

Dancer Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Thomas Dancer, who arrived in Barbados in 1671

Contemporary Notables of the name Dancer (post 1700) +

Ronald Stanley Dancer (1949-2022), American Republican Party politician who spent nearly 20 years in the New Jersey General Assembly
Stanley Dancer (1927-2005), American harness racing driver and trainer
Sir Amyrald Dancer, Baronet of Modreeny, Tipperary
John Benjamin Dancer (1812-1887), English photographer and inventor
Sir Eric Dancer K.C.V.O., C.B.E., KStJ (b. 1940), born in Sheffield, British businessman, Founding Chairman of Devon and Cornwall Training and Enterprise Council, and Former Lord-Lieutenant of Devon from 1998-2015, was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 15th June 2013, for his work as Lord-Lieutenant 7
Barry Dancer (b. 1952), Australian, Olympic field hockey player

The Dancer 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: Vincit qui patitur
Motto Translation: He conquers who endures.

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)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1