Astwyck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Astwyck family

The surname Astwyck was first found in East Hertfordshire at Eastwick, a hamlet which now forms the civil parish of Eastwick and Gilston. 1 2 The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Esteuuiche 3 and literally meant "east dwelling or dairy farm," having derived from the Old English words "east' + "wic." 4 The Parish Church of St Mary dates from the 13th century.

Here we also find the first records of the family, that of Wluuinus de Esteuuiche in the Domesday Book of 1086. 3 While many claim to trace their family name back to the Domesday, few can really do so and even fewer actually have an entry as a forename and surname as most are the singular surname only.

Hence, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Eastwick, held by Geoffrey de Bec a "great Baron" who was recorded in the Domesday Book. Geoffrey's brother was the standard bearer at the Battle of Hastings. Later in Sussex, the Subsidy Rolls listed William de Estwyke in 1296. 5

Early History of the Astwyck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Astwyck research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1657, 1692, 1696, 1701, 1712, 1739, 1814, 1836, 1845 and 1883 are included under the topic Early Astwyck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Astwyck Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Eastwick, Eastwich, Estwick, Estwich, Eastick, Eastich and many more.

Early Notables of the Astwyck family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Rev. Sampson Estwick, born 1657, was one of the children of the Chapel Royal under Captain Henry Cooke. Upon quitting the chapel on the breaking of his voice he went to Oxford, took holy orders and became one of the chaplains of Christ Church. In 1692 he was appointed a minor canon of St. Paul's. On Nov. 17, 1696, he preached at Christ Church, Oxford, 'upon occasion of the Anniversary Meeting of the Lovers of Musick on St.Cæcilia's day,' a sermon upon 'The Usefulness of Church Musick,' which was printed in the following...
Another 166 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Astwyck Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Astwyck family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Astwyck or a variant listed above were: 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..

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)