The Denistown surname is a
patronymic, created from the
personal name Dennis; thus the name originally meant "son of Dennis." Dennis comes ultimately from the Latin Dionysius.
Early Origins of the Denistown family
The surname Denistown was first found in
Yorkshire where the first record of the name was found in 1212. Richard Dionys of
Yorkshire, was listed in the
Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) Some were found at the chapelry of Speeton in the East Riding of
Yorkshire. "This township, which belongs to W. J. Denison, Esq., comprises about 1820 acres of land, and commands a beautiful view of the shore from Scarborough to Flamborough Head: the village is situated on an eminence north-east of the road from Bridlington to Scarborough."
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. However, there is much dispute over the origin of the name. Some claim the name was derived from the Scottish Dennistouns.
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print. Yet the author admits that that name was also found in
Norfolk and
Suffolk in early times too. Thomas Denison, one of the Society of Merchant Adventurers, was buried in Leeds parish church in 1708.
Early History of the Denistown family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Denistown research.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1381, 1694, 1714, 1782 and are included under the topic Early Denistown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Denistown Spelling Variations
Before the first dictionaries appeared in the last few
hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound.
spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Denistown has been spelled Dennison, Denison, Denson, Dennistoun, Dennistown, Dennisone and many more.
Early Notables of the Denistown family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Denistown Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Denistown family to Ireland
Some of the Denistown family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Denistown family to the New World and Oceana
In those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American
War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through
Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name Denistown: Edward Denison, who settled in Virginia in 1623; Dannie Dennison, who was on record in New
England in 1626; William Denison, his wife Margaret, and their three sons, who settled in Massachusetts in 1631.
The Denistown 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: Adversa virtute repello
Motto Translation: I repel adversity by virtue.