Show ContentsEllebey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ellebey family

The surname Ellebey was first found in the East Riding of Yorkshire at Ellerby, a civil parish that dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Elwordebi at that time. 1 The name literally meant "farmstead or village of a man called Aelfweard" from the Old English personal name + the Scandinavian word "by." 2 Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Ellerby, held, according to the men of Holderness, by William Malet, a Norman Baron, Viscount of Arques, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. The site now is moated and is called Old Ellerby, near Wood Hall. New Ellerby is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Together with Old Ellerby it forms the civil parish of Ellerby. Allerby is a hamlet in Cumbria, England and there is a village and civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire named Ellerby. Ellerbeck is a small village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire that dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Elrebec. 1

Early History of the Ellebey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ellebey research. Another 49 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1385 and 1410 are included under the topic Early Ellebey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ellebey 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 Ellebey were recorded, including Ellerby, Ellarby, Ellerbie, Ellerbe, Ellarbie, Ellaby, Elleby, Ellebie, Ellabie, Elerbee, Elerby, Elerbie, Elarby, Elarbie, Elarbee, Allerby and many more.

Early Notables of the Ellebey family

More information is included under the topic Early Ellebey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ellebey family

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 Ellebey arrived in North America very early: Eliz Ellerby, who came to Virginia in 1689; Robert Ellerbey, who came to Nova Scotia in 1750; Edward Ellerby, who arrived in New York, NY in 1822; Heinrich Ellerbeck, who arrived in New Orleans in 1867.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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