Kettlebro History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Kettlebro family

The surname Kettlebro 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 Kettlebro family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kettlebro 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 Kettlebro History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kettlebro Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Kettlebro include Ketelby, Kettelby, Ketelbey, Kettleby, Kettlby and others.

Early Notables of the Kettlebro family

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

Migration of the Kettlebro family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Kettlebro were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: 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)