Disney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Disney is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Disney family lived in Lincolnshire. This family was originally from Isigny, in Calvados, Normandy, and it is from the local form of this place-name, D'Isigny, literally translating as from Isigny, that their surname derives. 1
Early Origins of the Disney family
The surname Disney was first found in Lincolnshire where they "settled for many years at Norton D'Isney" 2
Now named Norton Disney, the small village and civil parish is on the western boundary of the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. The first reference of the place name was found in 1331 as Norton Isny and was held by the de Isney family since the 12th century. 3
Leland, in his Itinerary, p. 29, in enumerating the gentry of the Kesteven division of Lincolnshire, mentions "Disney, alias de Iseney; he dwelleth at Diseney, and of his name and line be gentlemen of Fraunce. Ailesham Priory by Thorney Courtoise was of the Diseney's foundation, and there divers of them buryed and likewise at Diseney." Lambert de Isney, of Norton D'Isney, co. Lincoln, is the first of the name mentioned in the public records. His descendants, of nightly degree, were seated for a long series of generations in Lincolnshire, representing the county in parliament, and allying with its best families. The present male representation vests in the family of Disney of the Hyde in Essex. 4
Early History of the Disney family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Disney research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1641, 1677 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Disney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Disney Spelling Variations
Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Disney, Deisney, D'Isney and others.
Early Notables of the Disney family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was
- Sir William D'Isney, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire; and Sir Henry Disney of Norton Disney (died 1641) progenitor of the present family. 2
- John Disney (1677-1730), was an English divine, born at Lincoln on 26 Dec. 1677, and received his early education at the grammar school in that city. His parents, being dissenters, removed him thence...
Disney Ranking
In the United States, the name Disney is the 8,400th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5
Disney migration to the United States +
Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Disney or a variant listed above:
Disney Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Will Disney, who arrived in Maryland in 1677 6
Disney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- William Disney who settled in Maryland in 1740
Disney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Thomas Disney, aged 28, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1812 6
- Robert Disney, who landed in New York in 1826 6
Disney migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Disney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Edward Disney, aged 36, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emigrant" 7
- William Disney, aged 34, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Punjab"
Disney 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:
Disney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- John Disney, aged 25, a gardener, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 8
Contemporary Notables of the name Disney (post 1700) +
- Walter Elias "Walt" Disney (1901-1966), twenty-two time Academy Award winning American film producer, founder of the Walt Disney Company and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Wesley Ernest Disney (1883-1961), American Democratic Party politician, Muskogee County Attorney, 1911-15; Member of Oklahoma State House of Representatives, 1919-24; U.S. Representative from Oklahoma 1st District, 1931-45 9
- Mrs. L. G. Disney, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 1928 9
- L. G. Disney, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 1916, 1920 9
- George J. Disney, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Plainville, 1948 9
- David Tiernan Disney (1803-1857), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Ohio 1st District, 1849-55 9
- Flora Call Disney (1868-1938), née Call, American mother of Roy and Walt Disney
- Lillian Disney (1899-1997), American wife of Walt Disney
- Roy Edward Disney KCSG (1930-2009), senior executive for The Walt Disney Company
- Harold Disney, Atomic Energy Scientist
- ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Disney family +
Fraterville mine
- Mr. Samuel M. Disney (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 10
The Disney 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: Vincit qui patitur
Motto Translation: He conquers who endures.
Citations +
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emigrant 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/emigrant1854.shtml
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. (Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm).