Show ContentsEllsworthay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Ellsworthay is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in Cambridgeshire, where they derived their name from the place-name Elsworth. The place-name is derived from the Old English personal name Eli and worth, an Old English word for farm. The place-name translated literally as Eli's farm. 1

Early Origins of the Ellsworthay family

The surname Ellsworthay was first found in Cambridgeshire at Elsworth, a parish, in the union of Caxton and Arrington, hundred of Papworth. An ancient Saxon village, it dates back to 974 when it was first listed as Eleswurth. 1 By the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name had evolved to Elesuuorde. 2 Elworth is a village and a suburb of Sandbach, Cheshire but is rather recent in history so as to be an unlikely origin of the surname. Elworthy is a small village and civil parish in the Brendon Hills area of Somerset. 3

Early History of the Ellsworthay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ellsworthay research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1280, 1400, 1600 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Ellsworthay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ellsworthay Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Ellsworthay has been spelled many different ways, including Ellesworth, Elsworth, Ellsworth, Elisworth, Ellisworth, Elsworthy and many more.

Early Notables of the Ellsworthay family

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

Migration of the Ellsworthay family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Ellsworthays to arrive in North America: Josiah Ellsworth who settled in New England in 1620 and purchased land there. The Ellsworths were among the first settlers to land in the New World. Later David Ellsworth landed in Massachusetts and moved to Boston in 1767. By 1852 John Ellsworth had traveled across the states to settle in San Francisco..



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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