Orlbar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Orlbar

What does the name Orlbar mean?

The present generation of the Orlbar family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the settlement of Orlingbury in the county of Northamptonshire. The place name literally meant "hill associated with a man called Ordla", derived from the Old English personal name + ing. 1 The surname Orlbar belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Orlbar family

The surname Orlbar was first found in Orlingbury, a village and civil parish between the towns of Kettering and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. The place dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Ordinbaro. 2 By 1202, the place name had evolved to Ordelinberg. The 2001 census lists the parish's population as 395 people.

Early History of the Orlbar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Orlbar research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1490 and 1711 are included under the topic Early Orlbar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Orlbar Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Orlbar include Orlbar, Orlebar, Orlebarr, Orlebarre, Orlbarre, Orlbarr, Awlbarr, Allbarr and many more.

Early Notables of the Orlbar family

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

Orlbar migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Orlbar were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Orlbar Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Orlbar who landed in North America in 1715

The Orlbar 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: Ora et labora
Motto Translation: Pray and work.

Sources +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)