Show ContentsMaulsbey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Maulsbey name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the region of Maultby in various counties throughout England. Maulsbey is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Maulsbey family

The surname Maulsbey was first found in Yorkshire at Maltby (Maultby) a former mining town and civil parish in South Yorkshire and/or at Maltby a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire. Maltby is also a hamlet in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire. The Yorkshire locals are by far the larger of the place names. There are three distinct listings in the Domesday Book of 1086 and all are spelt Maltbi.

The place name literally means "farmstead or village of a man called Malti," or "where the malt is made." 1

"This place was formerly the residence of a family of the same name, who continued in possession for several generations." 2

The parish of Acaster-Malbais in the union of York, partly in the Ainsty wapentake in the West Riding of Yorkshire was home to another branch of the family. "This place partly derives its name from the family of Malby, who flourished here for some centuries after the Conquest, until at length a daughter and heiress was married to Fairfax of Walton, created Viscount Emley." 2

"The manor of Ayton, in Cleveland, was, soon after Domesday, granted to the ancient family of Malebisse, and was held of the King i7i capite et dehonore. There was anciently a chapel here, built by Sir William Malebisse about the year 1215." Grave's Cleveland.

"Richard Malebisse in 1131 held one fee of the Honour of Eye (Rotul. Pip.) ; and his brother Hugh (Richard ii.'s father) made his will in 1138. They had large estates in various parts of the county, and others in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, where they held Kyneton of the Honour of Richmond." Gale's Richmondshire.

"Acaster Malbis, near York, which alone keeps the name in remembrance, is believed to have been one of their residences; and the second Richard had a house close to the city, at Clementhorpe on the Ouse. In 1191 he and his brother Hugh were excommunicated by the Pope as adherents and abettors of Prince John ; but he contrived to make his peace with the authorities, and in 1198 founded a Praemonstratensian Abbey at Newbo in Lincolnshire, endowing it with all his lands in the village of Newbo, the churches of Acaster, and Kyneton. John Malebisse was Joint-Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1314." 3

Early History of the Maulsbey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Maulsbey research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1831 is included under the topic Early Maulsbey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Maulsbey Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Maulsbey were recorded, including Maltby, Maltbie, Maltbe, Maultsby, Maltsby, Maltbey, Malebisse and many more.

Early Notables of the Maulsbey family

More information is included under the topic Early Maulsbey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Maulsbey family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Maulsbey family emigrate to North America: John Maltby settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630; along with Robert and William; Samuel Maltby settled in Fairfield, Conn. in 1820.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3


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