Surname Northey - Meaning and Origin
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Northey: What does the surname Northey mean?
The surname Northey is of English origin and is derived from a geographical location. The root word "North" suggests a location or direction, hence it is often considered that the name was given to individuals or families who lived in the north, or a place to the north. "Ey" is a suffix used in old English place names, denoting a water body, an island, or a piece of land. Thus, the entire surname could potentially represent someone from the northern island or the northern land. It’s also possible that the name was taken from a specific place called Northey. However, the precise meaning of this surname can vary based on different family histories and origins, as it was given to people in a wide range of contexts and regions. Like many other surnames, Northey was likely used to distinguish people for purposes such as taxation in the medieval period.
Order DNA origin analysisNorthey: Where does the name Northey come from?
The Northey surname is thought to have first emerged in the North West of England. It originated from an Old English word meaning north enclosure, likely referring to an area of land located north of a village or municpality. Today, the Northey surname can be found all over the world, from the United Kingdom to the United States and many other countries in between.
The United Kingdom retains the highest concentration of Northey surname holders. Within the UK, the highest concentration is found in counties of the North West such as Cheshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire. Large numbers of Northeys can also be found scattered across the country, being found mostly in the Midlands and South East.
In the United States, the Northey surname has been adopted and changed in many ways, such as "Norton" and "Northy." The most common alteration of the Northey name was found in the North East of the United States, primarily in states such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Here, the name can be traced back to the mid 19th century or even earlier.
Overall, the Northey surname is still common today and is celebrated as a distinct family line all over the world. It is a testament to the family's strong roots and rich history that their name has been maintained for many generations.
Variations of the surname Northey
The surname Northey is of English origin and can be found in many spellings and variants. The most common spellings are Northay and Northy but can also be spelled as Northey, Northe, Northey, Nourthey, Northye, Northeye, Nurdey and Nurdy.
Other variants of this same surname are Norriss, Norrish, Nowriz, Northice, Norse and Northiz. It can also take the form of two separate surnames: North-Hey and Hey-North.
This surname can be found as part of multiple surname compounds, such as Northon-Hey and Hey-Northon. Compound surnames were created when two families reunited and combined their given, middle and/or surnames; from this union would result a presentation of two surnames merged into one, with the two surnames placed together in different orders.
Furthermore, many variants of this surname have been recorded as being in use since the 13th century. By the 14th century, variations of Northey had become firmly established.
In certain areas Northay and Northy appear to be used interchangeably, with original members of the Northey family initially using the two variants together. As time progressed, however, Northy became the preferred variant experienced through long-term usage.
Some early spellings of this surname can be found in records of 1273, in the ancient London Pipe Rolls, where Willelmus Northay turnus was listed. In 1296, Johannes Northe was mentioned in Writs of Parliament. Walter Northye of Somerset was recorded in 1327 in the Court of Common Pleas of Somerset, and 1297 saw William le Northey in Northumberland.
Other spellings that have been found include Walter Northeye, in reference to his lands mentioned in the Feet of Fines from Staffordshire in 1332, and William Northie in Kent in 1525.
These were the earliest recorded examples of the Northey surname, though many other variants can be found throughout the centuries, from the 14th century to the present day.
Famous people with the name Northey
- Actor Robert Northey
- Politician Nicholas Northey
- World War II Ace Pilot Stephen Northey
- Major-General Sir William Northey
- 6th Baronet Samuel Northey
- Organist and Composer Benjamin Northey
- Actor Grier Northey
- Actor John Northey
- TV Personality Justin Northey
- Professional Cricketer Frederick Northey