Show ContentsSalesburay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Salesburay is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Salesburay family lived in Wiltshire, at Salisbury, from where their name is derived.

Early Origins of the Salesburay family

The surname Salesburay was first found in Wiltshire at Salisbury, a cathedral city that dates back to c. 900 when it was listed as Searobyrg. Over one hundred years later, the Domesday Book lists the place name as Sarisberie, much closer phonetically to today's name. The place name literally means "stronghold at Sorvio, " from the Old English words burgh + the Celtic name Sorviodunum. 1

Salisbury Cathedral is one of the most famous cathedrals in Britain; its spire can be seen for miles. Moreover, it is now home to pages from the Magna Carta which is on public display.

"Edward de Sarisberie, sometimes called Edward Vicecomes was a great tenant in chief in Wiltshire and other counties, at the making of the Domesday [Book]. He was a younger son of Walter de Evreux (Devereux) one of the few instances in those early times of a Norman family with a Saxon name. " 2

Early History of the Salesburay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Salesburay research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1500, 1561, 1573, 1575, 1580, 1593, 1612, 1621, 1622, 1625, 1626, 1637, 1640, 1643, 1660, 1661, 1684 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Salesburay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Salesburay 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 Salisbury, Salesbury, Sallsbury, Salusbury and many more.

Early Notables of the Salesburay family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Salisbury or Salebury 1561-1637?), Welsh grammarian, born in 1561 at Dolbelidr (now known as Ffynonfair) in the parish of Henllan, Denbighshire probably the youngest son of Foulke, third son of Piers Salesbury of Bachymbyd and Rug, a branch of the Salesburys of Llewenny, Denbighshire; John Salisbury (1500?-1573), Welsh Bishop of Sodor and Man, member of the ancient family settled at Llewenny in Denbighshire, whose name was frequently spelt Salesbury or Salusbury; John Salisbury (1575-1625), Jesuit and Welsh scholar, described as a native of Merionethshire, presumably a member of the...
Another 97 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Salesburay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Salesburay family to Ireland

Some of the Salesburay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Salesburay 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 Salesburay or a variant listed above were: Robert and David Salisbury settled in Virginia in 1654; Roger Salisbury settled in Virginia in 1638; Richard Salisbury settled in Maryland in 1684; William Salisbury settled in Virginia in 1623.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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