Show ContentsTemby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Temby come from when the family resided in Danby, the name of two parishes in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. The place-name Danby is derived from the Old English word dan.

Early Origins of the Temby family

The surname Temby was first found in West Yorkshire at Denby Dale where the first record of the place name was in the Domesday Book where it was listed as Denebi. 1 Today Denby Dale is a village and civil parish in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees and is known for baking giant pies, a tradition first started in 1788 to celebrate the recovery of King George III from his mental illness.

Alternatively the name could have been derived from Danby, a parish, in the union of Guisborough, E. division of the liberty of Langbaurgh, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. "This place, which was formerly of considerable importance, was granted by the Conqueror to Robert de Brus, who held of the king in capite, and who built a castle here; which, with the estate, remained with the family till the time of Henry III. " 2

Another branch of the family was found in the parish of Shilton in Warwickshire. "It was formerly the residence of a branch of the Denbigh family, whose ancient mansion is still remaining." 2

The variant Tenby, Thinbegh and Tynbegh originated in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Some of this family emigrated to Ireland. William Tynbegh, or de Thinbegh (c.1370-1424) was an Irish lawyer who held the office of Chief Justice and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland.

Early History of the Temby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Temby research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1212, 1300, 1419, 1421, 1423, 1426, 1474, 1503, 1530, 1554, 1571, 1575, 1576, 1590, 1610, 1631, 1655, 1660, 1667, 1727, 1757, 1781, 1787 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Temby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Temby Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Temby has been recorded under many different variations, including Danby, Danbie, Danbey and others.

Early Notables of the Temby family

Notables of the family at this time include His Worship Sir Robert Danby KS JP (died 1474), a British justice, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Chief Justice of England; John Denby, British politician, Member of Parliament for Wallingford (1419 and 1426); John Denby, British politician, Member of Parliament for Ludgershall (1421 and 1423); Sir Christopher Danby...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Temby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Temby migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Temby or a variant listed above:

Temby Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Temby, (b. 1865), aged 24, Cornish miner departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving in the United States on 17 June 1889 3

Australia Temby migration to Australia +

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

Temby Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Christopher Temby, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Harry Lorrequer" 4
  • Christopher Temby, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harry Lorrequer" in 1849 4
  • John Temby, aged 23, a copper miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Mary Green" 5
  • John Temby, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Standard" 6
  • Nicholas Temby, aged 21, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Lady Macdonald" 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Temby 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:

Temby Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Catherine Temby, (b. 1819), aged 43, Cornish settler departing on 29th May 1862 aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 8
  • Mr. Joseph Temby, (b. 1820), aged 42, Cornish farm labourer departing on 29th May 1862 aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 8
  • Mr. Peter Temby, (b. 1845), aged 17, Cornish miner departing on 29th May 1862 aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 8
  • Miss Catherine Temby, (b. 1819), aged 43, British settler from Cornwall, travelling from London aboard the ship"Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 9
  • Mr. Joseph Temby, (b. 1820), aged 42, British farm labourer from Cornwall, travelling from London aboard the ship"Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HARRY LORREQUER 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849HarryLorrequer.htm
  5. South Australian Register Monday 20 June 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MARY GREEN 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/marygreen1853.shtml
  6. South Australian Register Monday 18th December 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Standard 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1854.shtml
  7. South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Lady Macdonald 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/ladymacdonald1855.shtml
  8. 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
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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