Show ContentsAntringham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Antringham was derived from the Old English expression meaning "homestead of the family or followers of a man called Anta" 1

Early Origins of the Antringham family

The surname Antringham was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat in the village of Antingham in that shire. The village is so named from the River Ant which has as its source Antingham Common. Prior to the Norman Conquest, in Saxon times, the village was named Attinga, Antigeham, and later Antingham. 2 At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book by William the Conqueror in 1086 the Manor of Antingham was held by Turstin FitzGuy, under tenant, from Chief tenant Roger Bigod, originally of Chanon Maletot, near Caen in Normandy, whose successors Hugh, and Roger Bigod his son, Earl of Norfolk, would be two of the 25 Barons who signed the Magna Charta in 1215. Robert Bigot, father of Roger, chief tenant, married the sister of Turstin Goz in Normandy, and the similarity of the two names cannot escape attention. Roger Bigod married Adeliza Grantemesnil and had seven children. He died in 1107 and is buried in Thetford Abbey in Norfolk. There is no record of Thurston FitzGuy being at the Conquest, nor did the name FitzGuy survive as a viable family name. It was customary, when the Normans introduced surnames into England in 1066, that the junior sons of the Baron would adopt the surname of the location where they held a family seat, so as to distinguish son from father. Turstin FitzGuy was under-tenant and seated at Antingham Manor. Conjecturally, the Antingham family surname is descended from this Norman noble, Turstin FitzGuy, who may have been the grandson, nephew or natural son of Roger Bigod, favorite of Duke William, who sired the Dukes of Norfolk.

Early History of the Antringham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Antringham research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1414 and 1468 are included under the topic Early Antringham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Antringham Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Antingham, Antlingham, Attingham, Antringham, Anthingham, Antygham and many more.

Early Notables of the Antringham family

More information is included under the topic Early Antringham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Antringham family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Antringham or a variant listed above: Willm Antingham, who settled in North America in 1836; James Antrim, who arrived in New Jersey in 1678; John Antrim, who arrived in New Jersey in 1682.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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