Show ContentsEustice History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

When the Anglo-Normans began to settle in Ireland, they initially ignored the established Gaelic system for developing of patronymic names, and relied on their own traditional naming practices. Eventually, however, the two differing customs drew upon one another to some degree. The Anglo-Normans, unlike their Gaelic neighbors, frequently used nickname surnames. These Anglo-Norman nicknames were frequently of two types: "oath names" and "imperative names." Oath names often carried blessings or were formed from habitual expressions. Imperative names, formed from a verb added to a noun or an adverb, metaphorically described the bearer's occupations. The nick name surname Eustice is derived from a nickname for a Iustas, indicating a fruitful person. This perhaps refers to someone with many offspring, or with extraordinary agricultural or material wealth. The Latin form Eustachius was originally derived from a Greek word which means fruitful.

While the majority of the family emigrated to England and then many to Ireland, but not all as we found the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists William Eustachius in Normandy 1198. [1]

"The family, settled in Ireland under Henry II., were of Norman descent." [2]

Early Origins of the Eustice family

The surname Eustice was first found in Kildare (Irish:Cill Dara), ancient homeland of the Kildare based Uí Dúnlainge (Kings of Leinster), located in the Province of Leinster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Eustace (died 1215) was Bishop of Ely, ecclesiastic and statesman. "He secured the confidence of Henry I and of Richard I. He became vice-chancellor and keeper of the royal seal, and ultimately chancellor. He was also Dean of Salisbury. At that period all the chief posts in the church of York and its suffragan sees were, as a rule, employed to provide for royal officials. During the suspension of Geoffrey, Archbishop of York, by the Pope, in 1195, Richard appointed Eustace in 1196, Treasurer of York, on the death of Bouchard de Puiset, and in the same year gave him the enormous and lucrative archdeaconry of Richmond." [3]

While the majority of the family are from Ireland, we need to take a moment again to explore the English side of the story. Here the family come from "Fitz Eustace et Eustacy, presumably Eustace. Two great Barons of this name are entered in Domesday ; Eustachius Comes, the Count of Boulogne (see Abbeville), and Eustachius Vicecomes, the Sheriff of Huntingdon, whose 'evil deeds,' according to Freeman, 'stand out clearly in the Survey. In the entries of Eustace's own lands, we find English owners, and also the Countess Judith, complaining of his seizures.' This Eustace, who founded a small Priory at Huntingdon, is called by Camden Eustace de Lovetoft, though he does not appear in the pedigree given by Hunter of the Hallamshire Lovetots." [4]

Indeed there is more. For the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Adam filius Eustace, Cambridgeshire; Henry filius Ewstace, Huntingdonshire; and Richard Eustase, Cambridgeshire. [5]

Early History of the Eustice family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eustice research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1014, 1449, 1454, 1480, 1496, 1505, 1535, 1541, 1549, 1578, 1580, 1581, 1585, 1590, 1665 and 1693 are included under the topic Early Eustice History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eustice Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Eustace, Eustice, Eustes, Eustach, Eustis and others.

Early Notables of the Eustice family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was Thomas Eustace (c. 1480-1549), 1st Viscount Baltinglass; his son Rowland Eustace (1505-1578), 2nd Viscount Baltinglass; James Eustace 3rd Viscount Baltinglass who defeated Lord Gray in 1580; Sir Maurice Eustace (c.1590-1665), an Irish politician and judge; Sir Maurice Eustace, 1st Baronet (died 1693) of Castle Martin, County Kildare; Maurice Eustace (d. 1581), an Irish...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eustice Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eustice Ranking

In the United States, the name Eustice is the 18,722nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [6]


United States Eustice migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Eustice Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Eliza Eustice, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [7]
Eustice Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Eustice, (b. 1809), aged 28, Cornish miner departing from Falmouth aboard the ship"Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 8th May 1837 [8]
Eustice Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Henry Eustice, (b. 1880), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th July 1904 en route to Bisbee, Arizona, USA [9]
  • Mr. Frederick Eustice, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 16th July 1905 en route to Bisbee, Arizona, USA [9]

Australia Eustice migration to Australia +

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

Eustice Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Eustice (aged 19), a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
  • Mr. William Eustice, (b. 1837), aged 19, Cornish miner travelling from Plymouth, Devon, UK aboard the ship "Aliquis" arriving in Adelaide, Australia on 26th August 1856 [10]
  • William Henry Eustice, aged 21, a copper miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Tantivy"
  • James Eustice, aged 23, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Henry Moore"
  • Mr. Charles H. Eustice, (b. 1861), aged 24, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Dorunda" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 1st August 1885 [11]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Eustice migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Eustice Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Eustice, (b. 1842), aged 36, Cornish farm labourer departing on 29th August 1878 aboard the ship "Waitara" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 3rd December 1878 [12]

Contemporary Notables of the name Eustice (post 1700) +

  • William H. Eustice, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Plymouth, 1918; First selectman of Plymouth, Connecticut, 1921-27, 1947 [13]
  • Mark Eustice (b. 1963), former Australian rules footballer
  • Kenneth James Eustice, former Australian rules footballer
  • Charles George Eustice (b. 1971), British Conservative Party politician
  • Ernest "Ernie" Jenkin Eustice (1904-1958), South African boxer who competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics
  • Eustice H. Clay Sr., American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Raleigh County, 1972 [14]


The Eustice 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: Cur me persequeris?
Motto Translation: Why persecutest thou me?.


  1. 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)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  10. The Ships List Passenger Lists Ship Aliquis (Retrieved 26th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/aliquis1856.shtml
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
  12. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  13. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  14. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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