Show ContentsCatesby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Catesby has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in Catesby, in Northants, now Northamptonshire. [1]

"The family had been for some time settled in Northamptonshire, and held also the manor of Lapworth in Warwickshire. " [2]

The "Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I." had two early listing for the family: Robert de Catesby, Northamptonshire, Henry III-Edward I; and William de Cattesby, Northamptonshire. [3]

Early Origins of the Catesby family

The surname Catesby was first found in Northampton at Asbhy St. Ledger's, a parish, in the union of Daventry, hundred of Fawsley. "The church [of Asbhy St. Ledger's] is in the later English style; it contains a richly ornamented screen and rood-loft, and in the windows are some remains of ancient painted glass. Sir William Catesby, favourite of Richard III., and owner of the manor, was buried within the altar-rails, under a marble slab with a rich brass in fine preservation; and Robert Catesby, the conspirator, of the time of James I., resided here, where he had property." [4]

"William Catesby (d. 1485), councillor of Richard III, of whom, and others, the couplet was written: 'The Cat, the Rat, and Lovel our dog Rule all England under a hog,' was son of Sir William Catesby, of Ashby St. Legers, Northamptonshire." [3]

Early History of the Catesby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Catesby research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1371, 1449, 1450, 1453, 1459, 1478, 1484, 1485, 1573, 1605, 1679, 1710, 1719 and 1749 are included under the topic Early Catesby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Catesby Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Catesby have been found, including Catesby, Catesbury, Cates and others.

Early Notables of the Catesby family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • William Catesby, High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1371; Sir William Catesby (1450-1485), English landowner and Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in 1484, one of Richard III of England's princip...
  • Robert Catesby (1573-1605), was the leader of a group of Catholic conspirators (including Guy Fawkes) who planned an unsuccessful attempt to blow up the House of Parliament of England in 1605. He made...
  • Mark Catesby (1679?-1749), English naturalist, was born, probably in London, about 1679. "After studying natural science in London, he raised the means for starting on a voyage to the New World in 171...


United States Catesby migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Catesby, or a variant listed above:

Catesby Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Catesby, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 [5]
  • John Catesby who settled in Virginia in 1623
  • Jane Catesby, aged 20, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Thomas & John" [5]
  • Jane Catesby, who landed in Virginia in 1636 [5]
  • Robert Catesby, who landed in Virginia in 1654 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Catesby (post 1700) +

  • Mark Catesby (1679-1749), English naturalist who published his "Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands," between 1729 and 1747, the first published account of the flora and fauna of North America
  • Christopher Catesby Harington (b. 1986), known professionally as Kit Harington, an English actor and producer from Acton, Greater London


  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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