Annesslie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The ancestors of the bearers of the Annesslie family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found at Ansley in Warwickshire, and Annersley in Northumberland. The surname Annesslie was originally derived from the Old English name Ansleah. 1 Another source postulates the name came from Annesley, a parish in Nottinghamshire, near Nottingham. 2 The family held this place "from the reign of the Conqueror, 1079." 3

Early Origins of the Annesslie family

The surname Annesslie was first found in Oxfordshire where the family held a family seat at Bletchington. "Ralph, surnamed Brito de Annesley, living in the second year of Henry II., (1156) is assumed to have been son of Richard of Annesley, in the county of Nottingham, mentioned in the Domesday Survey. The estate continued in the Annesleys till the death of John de Annesley, Esq., in 1437, when it went to an heiress to the Cahworths." 4

"Areley Castle [in Upper Areley, Staffordshire], the seat of the late Earl of Mountnorris, who, when Viscount Valentia, published his interesting travels in the east, is now the residence of his nephew, A. L. Annesley, Esq., who succeeded to his English and Irish estates." 5

A detailed scan of early rolls revealed 'De Reginal de Anisleg in Anisleg,' Henry III-Edward I in the Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 6 and Johannes de Anneslegh, recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls for Nottinghamshire in 1273. 2 The source Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. shows John de Annesley, Yorkshire, 20 Edward I (during the 20th year of King Edward I's reign.) The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included as entry for Johannes de Andeslay as holding lands there at that time.

From the Nottinghamshire branch, some of the family moved to Scotland where William de Haneslej witnessed a charter by Walter, Bishop of Glasgow, between 1208-1218. He is probably William de Anslee, Canon of Glasgow c. 1220. Magister Thomas de Aneslei was one of a number appointed to settle a dispute between the monks of Kelso and the bishop of Glasgow, and Sir Aymer de Aynesley was one of the knights appointed to settle the law of the marches in 1249. 7

During King Edward I of England's intrusion into Scotland in 1296, the following rendered homage to him: John le fiz Johan de Anesleye of Roxburghshire, and Johan de Anesleye of Crucfut of Lanarkshire. "The seal of the former appended to his homage is broken but shows two geese drinking at a fountain." 7

Early History of the Annesslie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Annesslie research. Another 349 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1152, 1357, 1358, 1377, 1464, 1493, 1500, 1567, 1579, 1585, 1598, 1606, 1614, 1616, 1620, 1641, 1645, 1655, 1660, 1673, 1674, 1676, 1677, 1681, 1682, 1685, 1686, 1689, 1690, 1693, 1696, 1701, 1710, 1716, 1727, 1737, 1744, 1761, 1766, 1770, 1793, 1808, 1810, 1816, 1838 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Annesslie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Annesslie 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 Annesslie include Annesley, Annesly, Annisley, Annisly, Annersley, Annersly, Anesly and many more.

Early Notables of the Annesslie family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Francis Annesley, 1st Baron Mountnorris and 2nd Viscount Valentia (1585-1660), an English statesman; Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey PC (1614-1686), Irish-born, statesman, President of the Council of State and Treasurer of the Navy, Lord Privy Seal (1673 to 1682); and his son, Richard Annesley, 3rd Baron Altham (1655-1701), Dean of Exeter (1681-1701); Arthur Annesley, 4th Baron...
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Annesslie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Annesslie family to Ireland

Some of the Annesslie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 240 words (17 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Annesslie 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 Annesslie or a variant listed above: William Annesley who settled in Barbados in 1669; Robert Annesley who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806; John Anesley who arrived in North Carolina in 1701.

The Annesslie 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: Virtutis amore
Motto Translation: Through love to virtue.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)