Show ContentsWorbeltombe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Worbeltombe is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Worbeltombe family lived in Cheshire, at the village and parish of Warburton, which was acquired by the Duttons as early as temp. Henry II, but it was not until the reign of Edward I., or II., that this territorial name was assumed by Sir Peter de Dutton. [1]

Early Origins of the Worbeltombe family

The surname Worbeltombe was first found in Cheshire at Warburton, now part of Greater Manchester, "where they were descended from Sir Peter de Dutton, a Crusade knight, who in turn was descended from Rollo, the first invader and Duke of Normandy in 890. His Family Crest "a Saracen's head is still borne by the Warburtons referring to the Holy Land, and probably gained by some heroic exploit in the expedition. " [1] The source continues by referring to an earlier source: "This Galfrid lived in 1244. He was servynge his prynce, and vanquyshed a Sarrazin in combate - then begynnynge to seale with a Sarrasins's head" [1]

Reader's Note: a seal(e) was typically an early form of a crest. Yet another source claims the family is descended from William of Eu, through Odard, nephew of Lupus, great Earl of Chester, who was a nephew of William the Conqueror. They were granted the barony of Dutton at the Conquest in 1066. [2]

The Domesday Book also lists the spelling of the place name as Wareburgetune. Literally, the place name means "farmstead or village of a woman called Waerburh," having derived from the Old English personal name + tun. [3] Warburton was the home of "monastery of Praæmonstratensian canons, dedicated to St. Werburgh." [4]

Warburton dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Wareburgetune [2] and literally meant "farmstead or village of a woman called Warburh," from the Old English personal name + "tun." [3]

"The Warburtons derived their name from the Cheshire parish. Warburton is one of the most frequent of characteristic Cheshire names. One of the families carries its pedigree back to the times of Edward VI. (O.). In the list of Cheshire contributors to the Spanish Armada Fund in 1588 we find the name of Peter Warburton for £21, and that of the Ladie Warburton for £25 (Sp.). Probably the Lancashire Warburtons hailed originally from Cheshire. John Warburton, the antiquary and Somerset Herald, who died in 1759, was bom at Bury in Lancashire." [5]

Early rolls show Mabilia de Warberton in the Pipe Rolls for Essex and Hertfordshire in 1212. William de Warbilton was found in the Hundredorum Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1278 and Geoffrey de Werberton was listed in Cambridgeshire in 1325. John Warberton or Warbulton was listed in the Feet of Fines for Surrey in 1413-1414. [6]

Early History of the Worbeltombe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Worbeltombe research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1290, 1550, 1572, 1588, 1622, 1666, 1675, 1676, 1698, 1743 and 1779 are included under the topic Early Worbeltombe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worbeltombe Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Warburton, Warbleton, Wareburton and others.

Early Notables of the Worbeltombe family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Peter Warburton (d. 1550) of Arley, Cheshire; and his grandson, Peter Warburton (1588-1666), an English barrister and judge; Sir George Warburton, 1st Baronet (1622-1676), first of the Warburton Baronetcy, of Arley in the County of Chester; Sir Peter Warburton, 2nd Baronet (died 1698)...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Worbeltombe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Worbeltombe family to Ireland

Some of the Worbeltombe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Worbeltombe family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Worbeltombe or a variant listed above: Ann Warburton and her husband who settled in Virginia in 1656; Thomas Warbleton settled in Virginia in 1653(probably the husband of Ann); Edie Warburton settled in Maryland in 1718.



The Worbeltombe 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: Je voil droyt avoyre
Motto Translation: I will have justice.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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