England
IrelandThe surname Daunser is a ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Some instances of the surname are thought to have evolved from Middle English, Old French word "dance," meaning "dance;" and was an occupational name for a dancer or acrobat. [1] Some of this surname are thought to have evolved from the place name Ancere, in Normandy. [2]
The surname Daunser was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which included: Hervey le Dansur, Norfolk; and Ralph Danser, Gloucestershire. [1] Over in Somerset, William le Dauncer was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of Edward III.) [3]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Daunser research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1716, 1794, 1716, 1736, 1675, 1662, 1933, 1689, 1703, 1734, 1699, 1776, 1768, 1843, 1806, 1872, 1852 and 1933 are included under the topic Early Daunser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Dancer, Dansur, Danser, Dansar and others.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Daniel Dancer (1716-1794), the English miser, born at Pinner in 1716. "His grandfather and father were both noted in their time as misers, and are only less known to fame because their accumulation of wealth was not so great. The elder Dancer died in 1736, and Daniel, as the eldest of his four children, succeeded to his estate, which consisted of eighty acres of rich meadow land and of an adjoining farm called Waldos. Hitherto Dancer had given no manifestation of his miserly instincts, but now, in company...
Another 95 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Daunser Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Daunser family to IrelandSome of the Daunser family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 124 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Daunser or a variant listed above: Thomas Dancer, who arrived in Barbados in 1671; John Dancer, who came to Virginia in 1731; Brill Dancer who settled in Maryland in 1775; and William Dancer, who settled in Maryland in 1774..
