Cunstable History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Cunstable was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a law enforcement officer of a parish. The surname is derived from the Old French word, cunestable. 1

Early Origins of the Cunstable family

The surname Cunstable was first found in Yorkshire where the family descend from Robert de Laci, whose ancestors had been constables of Chester under the celebrated Hugh Lupus temp. William the Conqueror. 2

The first records of the family include: Richard Constabl' who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Cheshire in 1130 and Alice Cunestabl' who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1200. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Jordan Constabul in Northumberland; and Clemens le Constable in Kent. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Margareta Constabille and Richard Constabularius. 3

The parish of Melton-Constable is of great significance to the family. "This place is of great antiquity, and at the time of the Domesday Survey was granted to the bishops of Thetford, of whom it was held by Roger de Lyons, whose descendants assumed the name of Constable, from the office which they held under the see." 4

Wassand in the East Riding of Yorkshire was home to another branch of the family. " It is called in Domesday Book Wadsande, and after passing through the abbeys of Meaux and of St. Mary at York, and several families, came, in the time of Henry VIII., to the Constables, by whom it is still possessed." 4

Again, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, we found another early reference at Benningholme. " Among the chief owners of land in former times were the Constables, who had possessions in the township so early as the time of Henry III.: several of the farmhouses contain ancient remains." 4

Early History of the Cunstable family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cunstable research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1390, 1443, 1478, 1518, 1537, 1562, 1590, 1592, 1595, 1613, 1647, 1651, 1655, 1664, 1682, 1710 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Cunstable History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cunstable Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Cunstable include Constable, Constables and others.

Early Notables of the Cunstable family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Marmaduke Constable (1443-1518), English soldier; Sir Robert Constable (c. 1478-1537) of Flamborough, Sheriff of Yorkshire, executed for treason for taking part in the Pilgrimage of Grace; Sir William Constable, 1st Baronet (baptized 1590-1655), English...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cunstable Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cunstable migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Cunstables to arrive on North American shores:

Cunstable Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Cunstable, who landed in Virginia in 1623 5

The Cunstable Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Semper paratus
Motto Translation: Always prepared.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)