Tarby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Tarby arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Tarby comes from the Norman given name Terbert.

Early Origins of the Tarby family

The surname Tarby was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat. The definition that the name was derived from the name of a fish can be discounted as Victorian historians whimsical nonsense. The family held a family seat in Yorkshire and was a noble name during the time of King Richard 1st (about 1190 A.D.) and all indications are that this was a Norman name which appeared in the Domesday Book, 1 a survey of England taken by Duke William of Normandy in the year 1086 A.D., after his conquest of England in 1066 A.D. and appears as Turbert, a person holding lands.

Early History of the Tarby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tarby research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the year 1710 is included under the topic Early Tarby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tarby Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Turbutt, Turbott, Turbert, Turbett, Turbot and many more.

Early Notables of the Tarby family

Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tarby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tarby migration to Canada +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Tarby or a variant listed above:

Tarby Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Tarby, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland
Mary Tarby, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)