Show ContentsGatesbay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Gatesbay first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in the parish of Gaddesby, in Leicestershire. In the Domesday Book, 1 the name appeared as Gadesbi from the Old Norse byname Gaddr which meant "Sting." 2

Early Origins of the Gatesbay family

The surname Gatesbay was first found in Leicestershire at Gaddesby, a parish, in the union of Melton-Mowbray, hundred of East Goscote. 3 Gaddesby Hall was built on the site of an earlier house, was surrounded by a moat and dated back to 1390. The present hall was rebuilt in 1744 but suffered neglect through World War II. In the 1950s, it was again renovated to its present state.

While there is no doubt of the place of origin of the name, we must look to Essex for the first entry. There in the Feet of Fines of 1361, we found William de Gadesby. 4

Early History of the Gatesbay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gatesbay research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1842, 1858, 1862, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1875 and 1876 are included under the topic Early Gatesbay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gatesbay Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Gatesbay has appeared include Gadsby, Godsby, Gadsbury, Gadaby, Gatesby, Gatsby and many more.

Early Notables of the Gatesbay family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Henry Gabdsby, son of a musician, born at Hackney Dec. 15, 1842, entered St. Paul's choir in 49, at the same time with Dr. Stainer, and remained till 1858. The instruction in harmony which he and Stainer, as an exception due to their musical faculty, received from Mr. W. Bayley, the then master of...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gatesbay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gatesbay family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Gatesbay arrived in North America very early: Thomas Gadsby settled in Virginia in 1635; John Gadsby settled in Maryland in 1774; and in the next year Ralph Gadsby was recorded in Maryland; Henry, John, John William, and Thomas Gadsby all arrived in Philadelphia in the 1840's..



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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