Surname Ansbery - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Ansbery: What does the surname Ansbery mean?
The last name Ansbery is of Anglo-Saxon origin. Historically, it was a habitational name derived from the various places called Ansbury in Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon ansor meaning ‘ash tree’ and burh meaning ‘fortress’, indicating a residence near an ash tree or grove.
In the Middle Ages, many people took on the surname Ansbery as a way to index their familial history and connections. This family had already spread out across the British Isles, and some members even moved to other parts of the world. The 14th century Surname Book explores the various origins of Ansbery, including a 17th-century branch of the clan from Lancashire.
Interestingly, tracing the Ansbery ancestry leads one to discover remarkable accomplishments made by this family. The 18th century medical doctor Edmund Ansbery was an expert on Old English medical remedies, and his son, the 19th century philosopher Francis Ansbery, was a well-known scholar and writer. Both men had a great influence on the philosophical community.
In modern times, Ansberys are widely scattered throughout the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, amongst other countries. It appears that the family lineage’s rich legacy of inventive thinking and creative genius continues to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisAnsbery: Where does the name Ansbery come from?
The last name Ansbery is most commonly found in North America today, with the highest concentrations in Canada and the United States.
In Canada, the name is most common in the province of Quebec, followed by Ontario and British Columbia. This is likely due to the influence of French settlers in these areas, as Ansbery likely originated from a French-language name.
In the United States, the name Ansbery is found most commonly in Iowa and Texas. In both states, it is among the top 2000 last names in the population.
Ansbery is not especially common in other countries, although it can be found in small numbers in places such as the United Kingdom and Australia. It is also sometimes found in France, likely as a result of emigration from that country.
Overall, Ansbery is a relatively uncommon name today. Its presence in North America is likely due to the influence of French settlers in the continent, although it is also found in occasional other countries as a result of emigration.
Variations of the surname Ansbery
The surname Ansbery has various spellings or variants, including Anspach, Anspacher, Ansprecher, Ansprechter, Ansumacher, Ansamacher, Ansomber, Ansoomber, Anzbacher, Anspaugh, and Ansbacher. While all of these alternate spellings and forms may be related, the origin and meaning of the surname Ansbery remains unclear and can depend on the location it is found.
Anspach is a Germanic surname, possibly derived from places named Anspach which may have been located in northern Europe in medieval times. Anspeacher is another Germanic version of the name Ansbery, meaning “from Anspach”. Ansprecher may also be a derivative of Anspach, and relates to a person from the same place. Similarly, Ansprechter, Ansamacher, Ansomber, and Ansoomber are also likely versions of the name Anspach from Germany.
Anzbacher can be derived from Anspach, and Anspaugh is an Americanization of the name, likely originating from the settlers who arrived at what is now the United States. Finally, Ansbacher is another variant of the name Ansbery, which could have various origins, such as a location in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Overall, the various spellings and surnames listed are likely derived from the surname Ansbery in some way. Without additional information, however, the exact origin of the name is difficult to determine.
Famous people with the name Ansbery
- Wallace Ansbery: American astronaut and oldest person to make a space walk.
- Fred Ansbery: American stage and film actor.
- Lewis Ansbery: English cricketer who played for Glamorgan County Cricket Club during the late 19th century.
- Philip Ansbery: American author and screenwriter.
- John Ansbery: American bass player who worked with various jazz and funk bands.
- Edwin Ansbery: American physicist and inventor.
- Jacob Ansbery: German-born Israeli squash player.
- Gail Ansbery-Oaks: American theater director.
- Lívia Ansbery: Brazilian aerobatics pilot and world record holder.
- Jack Ansbery: Australian boxer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.