Show ContentsSandbeck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestry of the name Sandbeck dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the market-town of Sandbach which was found in the county of Cheshire. Cheshire lies on the border between England and Wales; it is the northernmost county on the border. Devastated in the 11th century by border wars between William the Conqueror and the Welsh, Cheshire's border with Wales fluctuated over the next several centuries. Today, the western portion of the Domesday era county is in Wales. 1

The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as "Sanbec." 2 Literally it means "sandy valley-stream," from the Old English "sand" + baece." 3

Early Origins of the Sandbeck family

The surname Sandbeck was first found in Cheshire at Sandbach. While this is where the family hails, we must look to Staffordshire to find the first records of the family. For it is there that Richard de Sandebech and Roger de Sandbach were listed in the Feet of Fines 1227 and 1254. 4 "The township of Sandbach gave its name to an ancient Cheshire family which flourished up to the 13th century." 5

Early History of the Sandbeck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sandbeck research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1578, 1624, 1636, 1749, 1772 and 1838 are included under the topic Early Sandbeck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sandbeck Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Sandbeck have been found, including Sandbach, Sandback, Sandbeck and others.

Early Notables of the Sandbeck family

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

Migration of the Sandbeck family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Sandbeck, or a variant listed above: Francis Sandbach arrived in New York in 1820; Walter Sanbecke landed in Pennsylvania in 1727.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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