The history of the Grimslay family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Worcestershire as Lords of the manor of Grimley.
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Early Origins of the Grimslay family
The surname Grimslay was first found in Worcestershire at Grimley, a village and civil parish now in the Malvern Hills District, originally in the union of Martley, Lower division of the hundred of Oswaldslow. An ancient Saxon stronghold, the first listing of the place name was in the 9th century when it was listed as Grimanleage. By the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name had evolved to Grimanleh and consisted of a mill and one half of a fishery of eels. 1 The place name literally means "wood or glade haunted by a spectre or goblin," from the Old English words "grima" + "leah." 2
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Early History of the Grimslay family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grimslay research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1890 is included under the topic Early Grimslay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Grimslay Spelling Variations
Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Grimley, Grimly, Grimleigh, Grimlie, Grymley and many more.
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Early Notables of the Grimslay family
More information is included under the topic Early Grimslay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Grimslay family to Ireland
Some of the Grimslay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Grimslay family
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Grimslay or a variant listed above were: Barnard Grimley settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1864; followed by Owen in 1875.
England
Ireland
