Alabaster Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Alabaster is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. Alabaster is a name for a arbalester, a person who either built or operated a 12th century variation of the medieval European crossbow named "arbalest." Derived from the Medieval French term, it actually dates back to Roman times when the crossbow was referred to as a "arcuballista."

Alabaster Early Origins

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The surname Alabaster was first found in Norfolk, where they held a family seat after 1066.

Alabaster Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Alabaster are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Alabaster include Arblaster, Arblast, Alablaster, Alabaster, Allblaster, Arbalistrius, Arbalistarius, Albalistarius, Arbelestre, Aleblaster, Allyblaster, Arbalister, Arbelaster and many more.

Alabaster Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alabaster research. Another 417 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1140, 1198, 1198, 1273, 1273, 1278, 1296, 1565, 1624, 1700, 1567 and 1640 are included under the topic Early Alabaster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alabaster Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Alabaster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Alabaster, or a variant listed above: who migrated to North America before the 19th century and contributed to the development of a new society.

Contemporary Notables of the name Alabaster (post 1700)

Chaloner Grenville Alabaster (1930-1941), son of Chaloner Grenville Alabaster, Attorney General of Hong Kong
Chaloner Grenville Alabaster (1838-1898), English administrator in China, Consul General at Hankow, Wuhan (1880 to 1886)
Rear Admiral Martin Alabaster CBE (1958-2007), retired former senior officer in the British Royal Navy from Totnes, Devon, Commander of Royal Naval College, Dartmouth (2007-2008)
Grenville David Alabaster (b. 1933), former New Zealand first class cricketer for Otago, Canterbury
John Chaloner "Jack" Alabaster (1930-1955), New Zealand cricketer who played 21 Tests for New Zealand from 1955 to 1972

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Citations

Other References

Crispin, M. Jackson and Leonce Mary. Falaise Roll Recording Prominent Companions of William Duke of Normandy at the Conquest of England. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip. Noble and Gentle Men of England Or Notes Touching The Arms and Descendants of the Ancient Knightley and Gentle Houses of England Arranged in their Respective Counties 3rd Edition. Westminster: John Bowyer Nichols and Sons, 1866. Print.
MacAulay, Thomas Babington. History of England from the Accession of James the Second 4 volumes. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1879. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds. Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8).
Samuelsen, W. David. New York City Passenger List Manifests Index 1820 - 1824. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1986. Print.
Bullock, L.G. Historical Map of England and Wales. Edinburgh: Bartholomew and Son, 1971. Print.
Bradford, William. History of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647 Edited by Samuel Eliot Morrison 2 Volumes. New York: Russell and Russell, 1968. Print.
Hitching, F.K and S. Hitching. References to English Surnames in 1601-1602. Walton On Thames: 1910. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0181-3).
Markale, J. Celtic Civilization. London: Gordon & Cremonesi, 1976. Print.
Chadwick, Nora Kershaw and J.X.W.P Corcoran. The Celts. London: Penguin, 1790. Print. (ISBN 0140212116).
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The Alabaster Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Alabaster Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 29 January 2013 at 08:30.