Show ContentsAnselby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Anselby family

The surname Anselby was first found in the East Riding of Yorkshire at Anlaby, a township, partly in the parish of Hessle, but chiefly in that of Kirk-Ella, county of the town of Hull, union of Sculcoates. "This place was anciently a possession of a family of the same name, and in 1100 a great part of the estate passed, by intermarriage with its heiress, into the family of Legard." 1

Early History of the Anselby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Anselby research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1415, 1420, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1552, 1567, 1571, 1574, 1597 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Anselby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Anselby Spelling Variations

Anselby has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Anelby, Anlaby, Hanlaby, Annlaby, Hannlaby, Anlabie, Anelbie, Hanelbie, Anselby, Ansallby, Ansalby, Hansalby and many more.

Early Notables of the Anselby family

Distinguished members of the family include William Anlaby (1552?-1597), English Catholic missioner, a native of Etton in Yorkshire. He "matriculated in the university of Cambridge as a pensioner of St. John's College, 12 Nov. 1567, and proceeded to the degree of B.A. in 1571. He had been brought up in the protestant...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Anselby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Anselby family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Anselbys to arrive on North American shores: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook