The name Grimlea was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Grimlea family lived in Worcestershire as Lords of the manor of Grimley.
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Early Origins of the Grimlea family
The surname Grimlea was first found in Worcestershire at Grimley, a village and civil parish now in the Malvern Hills District, originally in the union of Martley, Lower division of the hundred of Oswaldslow. An ancient Saxon stronghold, the first listing of the place name was in the 9th century when it was listed as Grimanleage. By the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name had evolved to Grimanleh and consisted of a mill and one half of a fishery of eels. 1 The place name literally means "wood or glade haunted by a spectre or goblin," from the Old English words "grima" + "leah." 2
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Early History of the Grimlea family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grimlea research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1890 is included under the topic Early Grimlea History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Grimlea Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Grimlea are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Grimlea include Grimley, Grimly, Grimleigh, Grimlie, Grymley and many more.
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Early Notables of the Grimlea family
More information is included under the topic Early Grimlea Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Grimlea family to Ireland
Some of the Grimlea family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Grimlea family
Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Grimlea, or a variant listed above: Barnard Grimley settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1864; followed by Owen in 1875.
England
Ireland
