Elleiss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Elleiss name is an important part of the history of the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Elleiss is derived from the baptismal name for the son of Ellis. which "has for the most part been formed from the scripture name Elias, which does not occur as an Anglo-Saxon name, but which was in use in France as early as the days of Charlemagne, as a baptismal designation, and after wards gave to several families." 1

Early Origins of the Elleiss family

The surname Elleiss was first found in Yorkshire where the first record of the name was "William Alis, mentioned in the Domesday Book as the progenitor of the Ellises of Kiddal, county York, and Stoneacre, county Kent, from whom sprang Sir Archibald Ellys, a crusader who is said to have originated the cross and crescents so common to the Ellis coat-armour." 1

Continuing the search through early records, we found Willelmus filius Helis listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Somerset in 1212, William Elyas in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1200, William Elis in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1202 and Andrew Elice in the Subsidy Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1309. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had numerous entries including: Henry filius Elis in Cambridgeshire; Agnes uxor Elys in Cambridgeshire; Simon filius Elys in Bedfordshire; Nicholas filius Elye in Cambridgeshire and Roger filius Elye in Shropshire. 3

Early History of the Elleiss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elleiss research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1282, 1460, 1474, 1550, 1561, 1581, 1598, 1609, 1615, 1616, 1625, 1634, 1640, 1650, 1651, 1653, 1654, 1660, 1665, 1673, 1676, 1680, 1688, 1690, 1693, 1700, 1701, 1703, 1716, 1721, 1731, 1734, 1742, 1757, 1761, 1774, 1806, 1820, 1826, 1832, 1861, 1890 and 1939 are included under the topic Early Elleiss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elleiss Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Elleiss were recorded, including Ellis, Elliss, Ellys, Elis, Eliss, Elliason and many more.

Early Notables of the Elleiss family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Ellis, Mayor of Norwich from 1460 to 1474; Sir Francis Ellis, an administrator of the English East India Company, and President of Bengal in 1693; John Ellis (1598-1665), a Welsh Anglican clergyman and religious writer, born at Gwylan, Maentwrog, Merionethshire; Humphrey Ellis, D.D. (d. 1676), English Catholic divine; Sir William Ellis (1609-1680), an English lawyer, judge...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Elleiss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Elleiss family to Ireland

Some of the Elleiss family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 172 words (12 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 Elleiss family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Elleiss family emigrate to North America: David Ellis who settled in Virginia in 1608 12 years before the "Mayflower"; Arthur Ellis, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1630; Elizabeth Ellis, who arrived in Boston in 1635.

Citations +

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