Show ContentsEllingsword History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Ellingsword is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having lived in Cambridgeshire, where they derived their name from the place-name Elsworth. The place-name is derived from the Old English personal name Eli and worth, an Old English word for farm. The place-name translated literally as Eli's farm. 1

Early Origins of the Ellingsword family

The surname Ellingsword was first found in Cambridgeshire at Elsworth, a parish, in the union of Caxton and Arrington, hundred of Papworth. An ancient Saxon village, it dates back to 974 when it was first listed as Eleswurth. 1 By the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name had evolved to Elesuuorde. 2 Elworth is a village and a suburb of Sandbach, Cheshire but is rather recent in history so as to be an unlikely origin of the surname. Elworthy is a small village and civil parish in the Brendon Hills area of Somerset. 3

Early History of the Ellingsword family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ellingsword research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1280, 1400, 1600 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Ellingsword History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ellingsword Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Ellingsword has been recorded under many different variations, including Ellesworth, Elsworth, Ellsworth, Elisworth, Ellisworth, Elsworthy and many more.

Early Notables of the Ellingsword family

More information is included under the topic Early Ellingsword Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ellingsword family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Ellingsword or a variant listed above: Josiah Ellsworth who settled in New England in 1620 and purchased land there. The Ellsworths were among the first settlers to land in the New World. Later David Ellsworth landed in Massachusetts and moved to Boston in 1767. By 1852 John Ellsworth had traveled across the states to settle in San Francisco..



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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