The name Gadabey first arose amongst the
Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in the region of Gaddesby a spot in
Leicestershire. In the
Domesday Book,
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) the name appeared as
Gadesbi from the Old Norse byname
Gaddr which meant "Sting."
Early Origins of the Gadabey family
The surname Gadabey was first found in
Leicestershire at Gaddesby, a parish, in the union of Melton-Mowbray,
hundred of East Goscote. Gaddesby Hall was built on the site of an earlier house, was surrounded by a moat and dated back to 1390. The present hall was rebuilt in 1744 but suffered neglect through World War II. In the 1950s, it was again renovated to its present state.
Early History of the Gadabey family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gadabey research.
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gadabey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Gadabey Spelling Variations
One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The
spelling variations under which the name Gadabey has appeared include Gadsby, Godsby, Gadsbury, Gadaby, Gatesby, Gatsby and many more.
Early Notables of the Gadabey family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Gadabey Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Gadabey family to the New World and Oceana
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in
England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left
England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Gadabey arrived in North America very early: Thomas Gadsby settled in Virginia in 1635; John Gadsby settled in Maryland in 1774; and in the next year Ralph Gadsby was recorded in Maryland; Henry, John, John William, and Thomas Gadsby all arrived in Philadelphia in the 1840's..