Ellice History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of ElliceWhat does the name Ellice mean? It was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Ellice was formed. The name was 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 Ellice familyThe surname Ellice 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 Ellice familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ellice 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 Ellice History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Ellice Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Ellice include Ellis, Elliss, Ellys, Elis, Eliss, Elliason and many more. Early Notables of the Ellice familyDistinguished 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... Migration of the Ellice family to IrelandSome of the Ellice family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Ellice were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Ellice Settlers in United States in the 17th CenturyEllice Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Ellice Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Ellice Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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