Show ContentsGatsby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Gatsby name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the parish of Gaddesby, in Leicestershire. In the Domesday Book, 1 the name appeared as Gadesbi from the Old Norse byname Gaddr which meant "Sting." 2

Early Origins of the Gatsby family

The surname Gatsby was first found in Leicestershire at Gaddesby, a parish, in the union of Melton-Mowbray, hundred of East Goscote. 3 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.

While there is no doubt of the place of origin of the name, we must look to Essex for the first entry. There in the Feet of Fines of 1361, we found William de Gadesby. 4

Early History of the Gatsby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gatsby research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1842, 1858, 1862, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1875 and 1876 are included under the topic Early Gatsby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gatsby Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Gatsby has undergone many spelling variations, including Gadsby, Godsby, Gadsbury, Gadaby, Gatesby, Gatsby and many more.

Early Notables of the Gatsby family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Henry Gabdsby, son of a musician, born at Hackney Dec. 15, 1842, entered St. Paul's choir in 49, at the same time with Dr. Stainer, and remained till 1858. The instruction in harmony which he and Stainer, as an exception due to their musical faculty, received from Mr. W. Bayley, the then master of...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gatsby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Gatsby migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Gatsby were among those contributors:

Gatsby Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Edward Gatsby, aged 17, who settled in America from Ballyforan, in 1900
  • Robert B. Gatsby, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States, in 1912


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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