Show ContentsNorthey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Northey

What does the name Northey mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Northey comes from the family having resided in the north, or were people who lived to the north of a main settlement. Northey is a local surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. There are a variety of types of local surnames, some of which include: topographic surnames, which could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree.

Early Origins of the Northey family

The surname Northey was first found in Sussex where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Northey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Northey research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1535, 1581, 1601, 1602, 1609, 1637, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1652, 1656, 1666, 1671, 1677, 1678, 1685, 1691, 1695, 1709, 1734, 1743 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Northey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Northey Spelling Variations

Northey has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: North, Northe, Northey and others.

Early Notables of the Northey family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Sir Edward Northey (1652-1743), a senior British barrister and politician

Migration of the Northey family to Ireland

Some of the Northey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Northey migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Northeys to arrive on North American shores:

Northey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Gilbert Northey, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1762
  • William Northey, who settled in Maryland in 1775
Northey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Richard Northey, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1844
  • Elijah Northey, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1848
  • Josiah Northey, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 1
  • William Northey, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 1
  • Henry Northey, aged 23, who landed in Texas in 1878 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Northey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Emily Northey, aged 15, who landed in America from Devon, in 1903
  • Henry Northey, aged 51, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1905
  • Charles Richard Northey, aged 22, who immigrated to America from Truro, England, in 1910
  • Charles Northey, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States from Chacewater, England, in 1910
  • Albert Northey, aged 21, who landed in America from Dalton in Furness, England, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Northey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Northey Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • John Pell Northey, aged 53, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1911
  • John P. Northey, aged 54, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1913
  • Adelaide Northey, aged 40, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1913
  • Florence Northey, aged 20, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1914
  • Ida Northey, aged 23, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1922
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Northey migration to Australia +

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

Northey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Northey, (b. 1792), aged 21, Cornish settler convicted in Bodmin, Cornwall, UK on 10th August 1813, sentenced for life for stealing silver spoons from John Woolcock, transported aboard the ship "Surrey" in January 1814 to Sydney, Australia 2
  • Elizabeth Northey, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cressy" in 1847 3
  • James Northey, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cressy" in 1847 3
  • Miss. Elizabeth Northey, (b. 1836), aged 17, Cornish general house servant, from Chasewater, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Harriet" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 11th June 1853 4
  • Mr. James Northey, (b. 1834), aged 19, Cornish farm labourer, from Chasewater, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Harriet" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 11th June 1853 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Northey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Northey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Northey, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 30th September 1853 5
  • Mr. William Northey, (b. 1823), aged 50, Cornish farm labourer departing on 13th May 1873 aboard the ship "Mary Shepherd" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 20th August 1873 6
  • Mr. William Hy Northey, (b. 1855), aged 18, Cornish farm labourer departing on 13th May 1873 aboard the ship "Mary Shepherd" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 20th August 1873 6
  • Mr. William Henry Northey, (b. 1868), aged 5, Cornish settler departing on 13th May 1873 aboard the ship "Mary Shepherd" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 20th August 1873 6
  • Miss Anne Northey, (b. 1854), aged 19, Cornish servant departing on 13th May 1873 aboard the ship "Mary Shepherd" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 20th August 1873 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Northey (post 1700) +

  • William "Bill" Howard Northey (1959-2024), American politician who served as the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation in the United States Department of Agriculture from 2018 to 2021 7
  • Scott Richard Northey (b. 1946), American retired Major League Baseball player
  • William Howard "Bill" Northey (b. 1959), American politician, member of the Republican Party in Iowa
  • Ronald James Northey (1920-1971), American professional baseball player and coach
  • Andy Northey (b. 1972), English former rugby league player
  • William Northey FRS (1722-1770), English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1747 to 1700
  • Mr. Ivor Northey B.E.M., British Long Jump Coach, was appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for services to Young People and to Sport in South London 8
  • Major-General Sir Edward Northey GCMG, CB (1868-1953), senior British Army officer of World War I
  • William M. Northey (1872-1963), Canadian National Hockey League pioneer
  • Richard John Northey ONZM (b. 1945), New Zealand politician
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Northey, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 9


The Northey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Animo et fide
Motto Translation: By courage and faith.


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CRESSY 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Cressy.htm
  4. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_1850_59.pdf
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  9. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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