| ![Show Contents]() Westoby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancient roots of the Westoby family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Westoby comes from when the family lived in Westby, a small village in Lincolnshire. The name was also found in Lancashire and West Yorkshire. The place name Westby comes from the Old Norse words vestr, or "west," and býr, meaning "a settlement." Early Origins of the Westoby familyThe surname Westoby was first found in Lancashire. "The family assert a Saxon descent, and say that they were settled in the hundred of Amounderness, in that county, before the Conquest; but the first member of the family mentioned in the pedigree is Gilbert de Westby, sheriff of Lancashire in 1238." 1 We will not discount this reference's claim but wish to advise the reader that the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire does list William de Westebi in 1219. 2 The Domesday Book of 1086 lists the pace name as Westbi. 3 The township of Medlar with Wesham in the parish of Kirkham was home to early members of the family. "On the dissolution of monasteries, the land seems to have been granted or sold to the family of Westby; in the reign of Philip and Mary, William Westbye held 'Medlarghe,' 'Wessham,' and other property in this quarter, and his descendants long continued to reside at Mowbrick Hall, now a farmhouse." 4 This latter source also notes the family held estates in Medlar, with Wesham, again in Lancashire: "On the dissolution of monasteries, the land seems to have been granted or sold to the family of Westby; in the reign of Philip and Mary, William Westbye held 'Medlarghe,' 'Wessham,' and other property in this quarter, and his descendants long continued to reside at Mowbrick Hall, now a farmhouse." 4 Early History of the Westoby familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Westoby research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1233 is included under the topic Early Westoby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Westoby Spelling VariationsOne 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 Westoby has appeared include Westby, Westerby, Westbee, Westbie and others. Early Notables of the Westoby familyMore information is included under the topic Early Westoby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Westoby family to Ireland
Some of the Westoby family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Westoby migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Westoby Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. Granthan Westoby, (b. 1850), aged 33, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in Hawke's Bay, Napier, North Island, New Zealand in 1883 5
- Mrs. Mary A. Westoby, (b. 1855), aged 28, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in Hawke's Bay, Napier, North Island, New Zealand in 1883 5
- Mr. Granthan Westoby, Jr., (b. 1874), aged 9, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in Hawke's Bay, Napier, North Island, New Zealand in 1883 5
- Mr. Henry Westoby, (b. 1877), aged 6, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in Hawke's Bay, Napier, North Island, New Zealand in 1883 5
- Miss Mary M. Westoby, (b. 1879), aged 4, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in Hawke's Bay, Napier, North Island, New Zealand in 1883 5
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Nec volenti nec volanti
Motto Translation: Neither wishing nor flying.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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Westoby migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
