Surname Anstee - Meaning and Origin
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Anstee: What does the surname Anstee mean?
The origins of the surname Anstee are found in England, where it is thought to be derived from the Old English 'ansetl', meaning 'hermit'. Anstee is generally understood to be a topographic name for someone who lived near a hermit's cell or in a hermit's estate. In thirteenth century records, the name Anstee is found as Anstee or Anstee-ship.
The early records of the Anstee family are found in the counties of Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, where the family was prominent in local and national politics and affairs for many generations. Anstee is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, and in the Court Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1327. Notable members of the Anstee family include John Anstee (1743-1789), a schoolmaster from Somerset, and George Anstee (1759-1832), a prominent noted engineer.
Today, the name Anstee is still found in various parts of the United Kingdom. Notable Anstees who are active in the public eye include Gordon Anstee, a British politician and historian, and Phil Anstee, a former British soldier and current member of the House of Lords.
Anstee is a name with a rich and interesting background, and families with this surname can be proud of their long and distinguished heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisAnstee: Where does the name Anstee come from?
The last name Anstee is found mainly in the United Kingdom. It is a relatively rare surname. The places in the UK where the name is more commonly seen today include Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales.
In Northern Ireland, the name is most often found in County Antrim with 30 bearers of the Anstee surname currently living there.
In England, the name is more widely spread, although it is more concentrated in certain areas. The counties where there are more than 30 people living with the Anstee surname are Kent, Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, and Devon.
Scotland is the country where the name is the least frequently seen, with 26 people currently living there with the Anstee surname. It is mainly concentrated in Lanarkshire and Midlothian.
In Wales, the Anstee surname is mainly found in Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, with over 30 bearers of the surname living in each of these counties.
The Anstee name first appeared in the UK during the sixteenth century, when Tenants called Ansty came over from Germany. This is why to this day, the surname is strongly linked to the German immigrant community.
The Anstee surname is a fairly rare one in most countries today. However, it remains relatively common in the United Kingdom, where it can be found in several counties and regions.
Variations of the surname Anstee
The surname Anstee has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Anstee is derived from an Old English personal name Ansti, which consisted of the elements “ans” meaning god, and “ti” meaning prosperity. The surname was first found in Cambridgeshire, England.
Variations of the surname Anstee include Anstead, Anstee, Ansty, Anstice, Anstiss, Anston, Anstey and Ansley. The spelling of the surname has changed and evolved over the centuries, as it was often spelt phonetically. For example, the variations Ansley and Anstey most likely come from when the name was pronounced as "Anslee" or "Ansley" to reflect a regional dialect.
There are also several other surnames which derive from similar roots. These include Anstiss, Anstice, Anstey and Anstys. Anstiss derived from the Old English personal name Ansti, and Anstice is a compound of the words “ans” meaning god, and “ti” meaning prosperity. Anstey is a variant spelling of Anstee and Anstys is a variant spelling of Anstee, which is derived from the Old English personal name Ansti.
Overall, the surname Anstee has several spelling variations, and many other surnames which derive from similar roots. It is likely that the spelling of the surname has changed as it was often spelt to reflect a regional dialect. The variations Anstead, Anstee, Ansty, Anstice, Anstiss, Anston, Anstey and Ansley are all derived from the Old English personal name Ansti.
Famous people with the name Anstee
- Ryan Anstee: British actor, best known for playing Billy Finch in the drama Waterloo Road
- Tom Anstee: British politician and member of the Conservative Party
- Katie Anstee: British television personality, best known for her appearances on Big Brother
- Sammy Anstee: English footballer, currently playing for Woking
- Hilary Anstee: Canadian politician, former leader of the BC Green Party
- Jane Anstee: British author, specializing in romance fiction
- Mark Anstee: British journalist, currently the Deputy Environment Editor for BBC News
- Rob Anstee: British rugby league player, currently playing for Wakefield Wildcats
- Christopher Anstee: British academic, professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Manchester
- Jack Anstee: British actor, best known for his role on Australian drama show Home and Away