Re: Debney - Church Aston & Gnosall, UK
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In reply to:
Re: Debney - Church Aston & Gnosall, UK
10/30/99
THE ANCIENT HISTORY
OF THE DISTINGUISHED SURNAME
"DEBNEY"
The ancient chronicles of England reveal the early records of the name "DEBNEY" as a
Norman surname which ranks as one of the oldest.The history of the name is closely
interwoven with the majestic tapestry as an intrinsic part of the history of Britain.
In-depth research by skilled analysts into ancient manuscripts; such as the Doomesday Book (compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror), the Ragman Rolls, the Wace poem, the Honour Roll of the Battle Abbey, the Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family geneologies, local parish and church records; shows the first record of the name "DEBNEY" was found in Liconshire. They were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD.
Many alternate spellings were found in the archives researched, typically linked to a
common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings.Although the name "DEBNEY" appeared in many references, from time to time the surname included Daubeney, Daveney, Dabney, Daubeny, Debney, Dalbini, Dibney, Dybney, Dobney, Daughby, Dawbeney, Dawby, Debeney and these changes in spelling frequently occurred even between father and son.Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded.Typically a person would be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with a headstone that showed another.All three spelling related to the same person.Sometimes preferences for different spelling variations either resulted from a branch preference, religious affiliation, or sometimes nationalistic statements.
The family name "DEBNEY" is believed to be descended originally from the Norman race,
frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin.They were more accurately of
"Viking origin".The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 AD, under their King,, Stirgud the Stout.Thorfinn Rollo, his descendant landed in northern France about the year 940 AD.The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally conceded defeat the granted northern France to Rollo.Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy, the territory of the north men.Rollo married Charles' daughter and became a convert to Christianity.Duke William who invaded England in 1066 was decsended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086, and recorded it in the Doomesday Book.A family name capable of being traced back to this manuscript, or to Hastings, was a signal honour for most families during the middle ages, and even today.
The surname "DEBNEY" emerged as a notable family name in the county of Lincolnshire
where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at "Belvoir Castle" with
manor and estates in that shire.This came from a town and castle of Abene near Louvaine in Normandy.William D"Albini, Lord of Belvoir, was ancestor of the feudal Lords of Belvoir, estates which were later conveyed to the Manners through marriage.The Barons Daubeney became the Earls of Bridgewater, and many junior lines developed in Yorkshire, Essex, Suffolk, Cambridge, Buckingham, Gloustershire, Bedford, Northampton and Leicestershire.Prominent amongst the family at this time was the Duke of Albany.
The surname "DEBNEY" contributed much to local politics and in the affairs of England
or Scotland.During the 11th and 12th centuries many of these Norman families moves
north to Scotland.Later in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, England was ravaged by religious and political conflict.The Monachy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy.Religious elements vied for control - the State Church, the Roman Church and the Reform Church.All in their time made demands on rich and poor alike.They broke the spirit of men and many turned from religion or alternatively renewed their faith, pursuing with vigour and ferocity, the letter of the ecclesiastical law.Many families were freely "encouraged" to migrate to Ireland or to the Colonies.Nonbelievers or dissidents were banished, sometimes even hanged.
The settlers in Ireland became known as the "Adventurers for land in Ireland".They under
took to keep the Protestant faith.There is no evidence that the family name migrated to
Ireland but this does not preclude the possibility of their scattered migration to that Country.The democratic attitudes of the New World spread like wildfire.Many migrated aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the "White Sails".The stormy Atlantic, smallpox, dysentery, cholera and typhoid took its toll on the settlers and many of these tiny overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 or 70% of their passenger list.The migration or banishment to the New World continued, some voluntarily from Ireland, but mostly directly from England and Scotland, their home territories.Some clans and families even moved to the European Continent.In North America, migrants that would be considered a kinsman of the family name "DEBNEY", or variable spellings of that same family name included Thomas Dabney.He settled in the Barbados in 1654.John Dabney who arrived in New York in 1820.Darby Davenney who settled in Philadelphia in 1858.Alexander D'Aubiney who settled in New England in 1775.Biddy Dauby who settled in Philadelphia in 1820.From the port of arrival many settlers joined the wagon trains westward.During the American War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.
There were many notable of this name Debney - Robert Daubney, Diplomat.
In the process of researching this distinguished family name we also traced the most ancient grant of Arms from the branches which developed their own Arms.
The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was:
Red with four diamond shapes in the centre.
The Crest was: A tree and a star.
YORK MINISTER, England
Brought back from York by Natalie, Doreen's daughter in July 1992.
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Re: Debney - Church Aston & Gnosall, UK
Don Deveny 10/28/10