Show ContentsAnnesley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Annesley

What does the name Annesley mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Annesley comes from the family having resided at Ansley in Warwickshire, and Annersley in Northumberland. The surname Annesley was originally derived from the Old English name Ansleah. 1 Another source postulates the name came from Annesley, a parish in Nottinghamshire, near Nottingham. 2 The family held this place "from the reign of the Conqueror, 1079." 3

Early Origins of the Annesley family

The surname Annesley was first found in Oxfordshire where the family held a family seat at Bletchington. "Ralph, surnamed Brito de Annesley, living in the second year of Henry II., (1156) is assumed to have been son of Richard of Annesley, in the county of Nottingham, mentioned in the Domesday Survey. The estate continued in the Annesleys till the death of John de Annesley, Esq., in 1437, when it went to an heiress to the Cahworths." 4

"Areley Castle [in Upper Areley, Staffordshire], the seat of the late Earl of Mountnorris, who, when Viscount Valentia, published his interesting travels in the east, is now the residence of his nephew, A. L. Annesley, Esq., who succeeded to his English and Irish estates." 5

A detailed scan of early rolls revealed 'De Reginal de Anisleg in Anisleg,' Henry III-Edward I in the Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 6 and Johannes de Anneslegh, recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls for Nottinghamshire in 1273. 2 The source Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. shows John de Annesley, Yorkshire, 20 Edward I (during the 20th year of King Edward I's reign.) The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included as entry for Johannes de Andeslay as holding lands there at that time.

From the Nottinghamshire branch, some of the family moved to Scotland where William de Haneslej witnessed a charter by Walter, Bishop of Glasgow, between 1208-1218. He is probably William de Anslee, Canon of Glasgow c. 1220. Magister Thomas de Aneslei was one of a number appointed to settle a dispute between the monks of Kelso and the bishop of Glasgow, and Sir Aymer de Aynesley was one of the knights appointed to settle the law of the marches in 1249. 7

During King Edward I of England's intrusion into Scotland in 1296, the following rendered homage to him: John le fiz Johan de Anesleye of Roxburghshire, and Johan de Anesleye of Crucfut of Lanarkshire. "The seal of the former appended to his homage is broken but shows two geese drinking at a fountain." 7

Early History of the Annesley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Annesley research. Another 349 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1152, 1357, 1358, 1377, 1464, 1493, 1500, 1567, 1579, 1585, 1598, 1606, 1614, 1616, 1620, 1641, 1645, 1655, 1660, 1673, 1674, 1676, 1677, 1681, 1682, 1685, 1686, 1689, 1690, 1693, 1696, 1701, 1710, 1716, 1727, 1737, 1744, 1761, 1766, 1770, 1793, 1808, 1810, 1816, 1838 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Annesley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Annesley Spelling Variations

Annesley has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Annesley, Annesly, Annisley, Annisly, Annersley, Annersly, Anesly and many more.

Early Notables of the Annesley family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Sir Francis Annesley, 1st Baron Mountnorris and 2nd Viscount Valentia (1585-1660), an English statesman
  • Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey PC (1614-1686), Irish-born, statesman, President of the Council of State and Treasurer of the Navy, Lord Privy Seal (1673 to 1682)
  • Arthur Annesley, 4th Baron Altham (1689-1727)
  • Samuel Annesley (c. 1620-1696), English Puritan and nonconformist pastor, best known for the sermons he collected as the series of Morning Exercises
  • James Annesley, 2nd Earl of Anglesey FRS (c.1645-1690), a British peer
  • James Annesley, 3rd Earl of Anglesey (1674-1701)
  • John Annesley, 4th Earl of Anglesey (1676-1710)

Migration of the Annesley family to Ireland

Some of the Annesley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 240 words (17 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Annesley migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Annesleys to arrive on North American shores:

Annesley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Annesley who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806

Annesley migration to Australia +

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

Annesley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Annesley, (Ansley), (b. 1801), aged 19, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1883 8
  • Mr. Marcus Annesley, (b. 1798), aged 34, Irish servant who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for life for manslaughter, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 1st July 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1836 9

Annesley 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:

Annesley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Jackson Annesley, aged 33, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 10

Annesley migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 11
Annesley Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • William Annesley who settled in Barbados in 1669

Contemporary Notables of the name Annesley (post 1700) +

  • Alexander Annesley (d. 1813), English legal and political writer, a London solicitor and member of the Inner Temple 12
  • Richard John Dighton Annesley (b. 1929), 15th Viscount Valentia, English Army Captain
  • James Annesley (1715-1760), claimant to the earldom of Anglesea; he was the son of Lord Altham, according to one account, by his wife Mary Sheffield, natural daughter of the Duke of Buckingham, or, according to another, by a woman called Juggy Landy 12
  • Michael Robert Annesley (b. 1933), 12th Earl Annesley, Anglo-Irish peer
  • Philip Harrison Annesley (1927-2011), 11th Earl Annesley, Anglo-Irish peer
  • Patrick Annesley (1924-2001), 10th Earl Annesley, Anglo-Irish peer
  • Robert Annesley (1900-1979), 9th Earl Annesley, Anglo-Irish peer
  • Beresford Cecil Bingham Annesley (1894-1957), 8th Earl Annesley, Anglo-Irish peer
  • Walter Beresford Annesley (1861-1934), 7th Earl Annesley, Anglo-Irish peer
  • Francis Annesley (1884-1914), 6th Earl Annesley, Anglo-Irish peer, Royal Navy officer and pioneer aviator who died in a plane crash at sea
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Annesley 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: Virtutis amore
Motto Translation: Through love to virtue.


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  7. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  12. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 17 Apr. 2019


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