Show ContentsMoorebay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestry of the name Moorebay dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the settlement of Moreby in the East Riding of Yorkshire, or in the place named Moorby in Lincolnshire. The surname Moorebay belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Moorebay family

The surname Moorebay was first found in East Riding of Yorkshire at Moreby with Stillingfleet, a township, in the parish of Stillingfleet, wapentake of Ouse and Derwent. The hamlet of Moreby has remained quite small over the years having a population of only 56 in the late 1800s. Moreby Hall, is a magnificent mansion in the Elizabethan style, is seated in a fine lawn on the east bank of the Ouse, and surrounded with trees of gigantic growth. 1 "The church [of Stillingfleet] is an ancient structure with some portions in the Norman style, and attached to it is a chapel containing a cross-legged figure in armour, of one of the family of Moreby." 1

Early History of the Moorebay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Moorebay research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1367, 1379, 1401 and 1675 are included under the topic Early Moorebay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moorebay Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Moorebay have been found, including Moorby, Mooreby, Moreby, Morbey, Morby, Moorbey and others.

Early Notables of the Moorebay family

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

Migration of the Moorebay family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Moorebay, or a variant listed above: Stephen Morby, who settled in Maryland in 1669; Richard Moorby, who came to Virginia in 1724; Samuel Moorby, who was on record in the census of Ontario, Canada in 1871.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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