The
Anglo-Saxon name Emley comes from when the family resided in
Yorkshire, where they derived the family name from Helmsley. It was in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but has been lost to modern maps. The place-name was probably derived from the Old English
personal name Helm, and
ley or
leah, which were Old English words for "a clearing in the woods." The translation of the place-name was "clearing belonging to Helm."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)Early Origins of the Emley family
The surname Emley was first found in
Yorkshire at Helmsley, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the
wapentake of Ryedale. The town dates back to the time of Richard I.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. The
Domesday Book of 1086 lists the town as Elmeslac.
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) Helmsley Castle (also known anciently as Hamlake) is a medieval castle originally constructed in wood around 1120 by Walter l'Espec (died 1153.)
Early History of the Emley family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Emley research.
Another 275 words (20 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Emley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Emley Spelling Variations
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,
spelling variations are common among early
Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Emley has been recorded under many different variations, including Elmslie, Elmsley, Emsley, Elmesley, Helmsley, Emesley, Emesly, Ernele and many more.
Early Notables of the Emley family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Emley Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Emley family to the New World and Oceana
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded
England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Emley or a variant listed above:
Emley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- William Emley, who landed in New Jersey in 1677 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Contemporary Notables of the name Emley (post 1700)
- Eugene Emley, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Passaic County, 1888 [5]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Charley Emley, American politician, Mayor of Littleton, Colorado, 1983-89 [5]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Emley 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: Prenez garde
Motto Translation: Take care.