Gisborne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Gisborne

What does the name Gisborne mean?

The name Gisborne hails from the parish of Gisburn, in the union of Clitheroe, W. division of the wapentake of Staincliffe and Ewcross in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1

Early Origins of the Gisborne family

The surname Gisborne was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire, at Gisburn (Gisburne.) Now within the Ribble Valley borough of Lancashire, Gisburn is a village, civil parish and ward that dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Ghiseburne. 2 By the 12th century, early records revealed the place name's spelling as Giselburn and probably meant "gushing stream" from the Old English words "gysel" + burna." 3 The Church of St Mary the Virgin is thought to have been built as early as 1135.

Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Gisburn, Roger le Poitevin held from William de Percy the great Baron of the north who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. In 1219 Nigel de Gisburn succeeded. 2

Sir Guy of Gisbourne (also spelled Gisburne, Gisborne, Gysborne, or Gisborn) is a character from the Robin Hood legends of English folklore who attempts to kill Robin Hood but is killed by him. In later depictions, he has become a romantic rival to Robin Hood for Maid Marian's love. The ballad "Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne" dates from 1650 but its origins are much older, some believe as far back as 1475.

Early History of the Gisborne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gisborne research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1219, 1265 and 1274 are included under the topic Early Gisborne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gisborne Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Giseburn, Gisborn, Giseborn, Gisbourn, Gisbourne, Gisburne, Gisbyrne and many more.

Early Notables of the Gisborne family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Gisborne of Yorkshire

Gisborne migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gisborne Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

F. N. Gisborne, who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1849

Gisborne migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gisborne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Gisborne, English convict from Nottingham, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Gisborne (post 1700) +

Harry Thomas Gisborne (1893-1949), American forester who pioneered the scientific study of wildfires
Maria Gisborne (1770-1836), friend of Shelley, daughter of an English merchant at Constantinople named James, born in 1770, apparently in England
Thomas Gisborne the Younger (1794-1852), English politician, eldest son of Thomas Gisborne [q. v.], prebendary of Durham
Thomas Gisborne (d. 1806), English President of the College of Physicians, was the second of the three sons of James Gisborne (d. 1759), rector of Staveley, Derbyshire, and prebendary of Durham
John Gisborne (1770-1851), English poet, son of John Gisborne, and younger brother of Thomas Gisborne (1758–1846)
Thomas Gisborne the Elder (1758-1846), English Anglican divine, priest and poet
Thomas Gisborne (1790-1852), English Whig and Liberal politician
Thomas Gisborne (1851-1935), Irish rugby football player
Henry Fyshe Gisborne (1813-1841), Australian first Commissioner for Crown Lands of the Port Phillip District, founder of Flemington Racecourse and petitioner for Victoria's separation from New South Wales
William Gisborne (1825-1898), Colonial Secretary of New Zealand 1869-72 and Minister of Public Works 1870-71
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826