Kettlby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Kettlby family

The surname Kettlby was first found in Lincolnshire at Kettleby, a hamlet, in the parish of Bigby, union of Caistor, S. division of the wapentake of Yarborough. 1 2 3

Kettleby Thorpe is also a hamlet, in the parish of Bigby, union of Caistor, S. division of the wapentake of Yarborough a little farther from Glandford-Brigg. "Here is a desecrated burial-ground, where fragments of Roman pavement have been found." 1

Both hamlets back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when they were collectively known as Chetelbi. 4 By 1236, they were known as Abeketleby and literally meant "farmstead or village of a man called Ketil," from the Viking personal name + "by." 5

The first record of the family was John de Ketelbi who held estates here in c.1200-1210. But from this first entry for the family, it seems that for a few centuries, there were no entries found as we must move to 1513 to find John Ketylby in the Feet of Fines for Essex at that time. 2

Worcestershire became as stronghold of the family as the Register of the University of Oxford listed John Kettlebie (1589) and Thomas Ketilby (1604.) 6

The famed English composer, conductor and pianist Albert William Ketèlbey (1875-1959) best known for his short pieces of light orchestral music was born in Aston, Birmingham as Albert William Ketelbey. He added the accented "e" to help people pronounce his name better.

Early History of the Kettlby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kettlby research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1041, 1191, 1241, 1396, 1510, 1513, 1543, 1600, 1652, 1688, 1693, 1704 and 1982 are included under the topic Early Kettlby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kettlby Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Kettlby has been spelled many different ways, including Ketelby, Kettelby, Ketelbey, Kettleby, Kettlby and others.

Early Notables of the Kettlby family

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

Migration of the Kettlby family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Kettlbys to arrive in North America: James Kettleby, who came to America in 1767; as well as Maria Kettleby, who arrived in Ontario in 1871.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)