Atterbury History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Atterbury family

The surname Atterbury was first found in Oxfordshire at either East Adderbury or West Adderbury, Saxon villages and civil parishes that date back to c. 950 when there were listed collectively as Eadburggebyrig. Over one hundred years later in the Domesday Book of 1086, they were listed as Edburgberie and were held by Robert from Robert of Stafford, a Norman noble. 1

Literally the place names mean "stronghold of a woman called Eadburh," from the Old English personal name + "burh." 2

Another reference claims the place name was derived from St. Edburgh, to whom many religious establishments in this part of the country were dedicated. In the court rolls of New College, Oxford, the placename is written as Ebberbury. "Donnington Castle [in Donnington, Berkshire], built by Sir Richard de Abberbury, who was guardian to Richard II. in his minority, stood upon a declivity, at the foot of which runs the river Kennet. It was garrisoned for Charles I., and withstood two sieges during the civil war, in the first of which three of its towers were demolished, and in 1644 it was almost battered down by Colonel Dalbier, from whom a field in the vicinity, in which he planted his cannon, is still named. The only remains of this once impregnable fortress consist of a gateway flanked by two towers, a great portion of the ruins having been removed for the erection of a house near the site. A friary of the order of the Holy Trinity was also founded by Sir Richard de Abberbury. An hospital, called God's House, is supposed to have been founded, in 1392, by the same individual." 3

Early History of the Atterbury family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Atterbury research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1654, 1656, 1660, 1663, 1693, 1713, 1723, 1731, 1732, 1773, 1775, 1778 and 1780 are included under the topic Early Atterbury History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Atterbury Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Atterbury were recorded, including Adderbury, Atterbury, AdderBerry, Adderberrie, Adderborrow, Adderbry and many more.

Early Notables of the Atterbury family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Lewis Atterbury DD the Elder (died 1693), Rector of Great or Broad Risington in Gloucestershire in 1654, Chaplain to Henry, Duke of Gloucester in 1660; and his son, Francis Atterbury (1663-1732), Engl...
Lewis Atterbury the Younger (1656-1731), the eldest son of Lewis Atterbury the Elder, and brother of Bishop Atterbury, was born at Caldecot, in the parish of Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, on 2 May...

Atterbury migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Atterbury arrived in North America very early:

Atterbury Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Atterbury, who sailed to Maryland in 1733
Henry Atterbury, who arrived in Maryland in 1742

Atterbury Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lewis Atterbury, who was on record in Philadelphia in 1801
C.L. Atterbury, aged 50, who landed in America from London, in 1895

Atterbury Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

F E Atterbury, who settled in America from Liverpool, in 1900
Eliz. Atterbury, aged 34, who immigrated to the United States from Kelson, in 1903
Grosvenor Atterbury, who immigrated to the United States, in 1904
A. Atterbury, aged 47, who landed in America from Kingston, in 1904
Charles G. Atterbury, aged 38, who settled in America from London, in 1905
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Atterbury migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Atterbury Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mary Atterbury, aged 31, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Shackamaxon" 4
Elizabeth Atterbury, aged 7, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Shackamaxon" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Atterbury (post 1700) +

Malcolm Atterbury (1907-1992), American stage and vaudeville actor
Grosvenor Atterbury (1869-1956), American architect
William Wallace Atterbury (1866-1935), American Brigadier General during World War I, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad (1925-1935)
Luffman Atterbury (d. 1796), English carpenter, builder and musician, Member of the Madrigal Society in 1765
Septimus Atterbury (b. 1880), English footballer
Audrey Selma Atterbury (1921-1997), British puppeteer best known for her work on the 1950s BBC's children's series Andy Pandy
Paul Atterbury FRSA (b. 1945), British antiques expert, best known for his many appearances on the BBC TV programme Antiques Roadshow
John Atterbury (b. 1941), British actor, known for his roles in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Robin Hood (2010) and Gosford Park (2001)
Lewis Atterbury Stimson (1844-1917), American surgeon

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
South Australian Register Thursday 20 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SHACKAMAXON 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/shackamaxon1853.shtml