Reresby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Reresby surname is thought to have originally been a habitational name, taken on from Ratsbury in Lynton, Devon.

Early Origins of the Reresby family

The surname Reresby was first found in Devon where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1242 when Merioth Rabespree held estates in Devon.

Early History of the Reresby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reresby research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1634, 1643, 1673, 1678, 1689 and 1711 are included under the topic Early Reresby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reresby 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 Reresby has appeared include Rabespree, Rasbery, RasBerry, Ratesberry, Ratesbury, Rasbury, Radesberry, Radesbery, Radespree, Ratsbury and many more.

Early Notables of the Reresby family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir John Reresby, 1st Baronet Reresby; and his eldest son, Sir John Reresby (1634-1689) of Thrybergh, Yorkshire, an English politician and diarist, Member of Parliament for Aldborough (1673-1678.)

Migration of the Reresby 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 Reresby arrived in North America very early: John Resburie, who arrived in Virginia in 1635; Thomas RasBerry, who came to Georgia in the mid-18th century; A. S. Rasberry, who arrived on a ship at San Francisco in 1852.

Contemporary Notables of the name Reresby (post 1700) +

Sir Sitwell Reresby Sitwell (1820-1862), 3rd Baronet of Renishaw, an English peer
Sir George Reresby Sitwell (1860-1943), 4th Baronet of Renishaw, British antiquarian writer and Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for Scarborough (1885-1886), and (1892-1895)