Worrtlay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the bearers of the Worrtlay family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Wortley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The place-name was recorded as Wirteleie in the Domesday Book. It is composed of the Old English elements wyrt, which means vegetable, and leah, which means forest clearing. The place-name meant "forest clearing where vegetables are grown." 1 English local names were originally preceded by a preposition, such as de, at, atte, by, in. After the Norman Conquest, the usual preposition was de, which was used in both English and French place-names. In French names beginning with a vowel, the de was often merged with the name. For example, de Ash would become D'ash and later, Dash. By the end of the 14th century, prepositions were frequently assimilated or dropped from the surname.

Early Origins of the Worrtlay family

The surname Worrtlay was first found in South Yorkshire at Wortley, home to Wortley Manor, a stately home which was rebuilt by Sir Richard Wortley in 1586. Today it is home to a group of local trade union activists that purchased the estate in 1951. Wedding ceremonies and day visitors are welcome. "This place, which had been for many generations the property and residence of the Wortley family, was, on the demise of Sir Francis Wortley, Bart., the last male heir, conveyed, by marriage with his daughter and heiress, to the Hon. Sidney Montagu." 2

Early History of the Worrtlay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Worrtlay research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1577, 1579, 1583, 1592, 1611, 1652 and 1665 are included under the topic Early Worrtlay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worrtlay Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Worrtlay include Wortley, Wortly and others.

Early Notables of the Worrtlay family

Notables of the family at this time include Francis Wortley of Wortley, High Sheriff of Derbyshire 1577, Custos Rotulorum of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1579-1583; Sir Richard Wortley, of Wortley Hall, Yorkshire; and...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Worrtlay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Worrtlay family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Worrtlay or a variant listed above: W. Wortley settled in San Francisco in 1850.

The Worrtlay Motto +

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: Avito viret honore
Motto Translation: He flourishes through the honour of his ancestors.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.