Re: Origins of Twamley Surname
I recently received some indepth research by skilled analysts indicating that ancestors of the Twamley family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman conquest of 1066. They lived in Cheshire, England. Early records show it to be an old Norman surname. The history of the name is closely interwoven within the majestic tapestry as an intrinsic part of the history of Britain. Ancient manuscripts such as the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 by Wm. the Conqueror, the Ragman Rolls, the Wace poem, the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey, The Coria Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies, local parish and church records, shows the first record of the name Twamley was found in Cheshire where they were seated from very ancient times as Lords of the manor of Hatherton in that shire. Conjecturally, they are descended from Wm. Malbank, who was holder of the village of Hatherton at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086, a census initiated by Wm. the Conqueror after his conquest of England in 1066 A.D." "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. From time to time, the surname appears as Twemloe, Twemlow, Twemlowe and Twamley, 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 name. Sometimes the preferences reflected a branch preference, religious affiliation, or nationalistic statement. The family name Twamley 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 A.D. under King Stirgud the Stout. Thorfinn Rollo, his descendent, led his people into northern France early in the 10th century. In 911, King Charles III was forced to cede territory to Rollo, who 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 and defeated Britain in 1066, was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.†“Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086, and recorded it in the Domesday 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 to this day.†“The surname Twamley emerged as a notable family name in the county of Cheshire, where they were anciently seated. More recently the family springs from Lidulphus Twemloe of Twemlow who was Sheriff of Cheshire toward the end of the 12th century. By the 16th century they were seated at Arclyd in Cheshire, and retained the manor of Hatherton, Twemlow, Hartford, Castle Northwich, and Leftwich in Cheshire, and also branched to Pentswood in the county of Staffordshire, but essentially their main seat was at Hatherton Lodge near Nantwich.†(to be cont. in next message)
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Re: Origins of Twamley, Twemloe, et al Surnames, Cont.
"...They also acquired the estates of The Hill and Sandback in Cheshire. Meanwhile in Staffordshire, Thomas Twemloe was Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1830. The main line of the Twemlows is presently represented by Emrys-Evans of Peatswood. They are also represented by the D'Oyly-Twemlows and the Fletcher-Twemlows. Prominent amongst the family at this time was Lidulphus Twemlow, Sheriff of Cheshire." "The name Twamley contributed much to local politics and in the affairs of England and Scotland. During the 11th and 12th centuries, many of these Norman families moved north to Scotland. Later, in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, England was ravaged by religious and political conflict. The Monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy. Religious elements vied for control of, the state Church, the Roman Church and the Reform Church. All, in their time, made demands on the rich and poor alike. They broke the spirit of men and many turned away 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 or sometimes hanged." "The settlers in Ireland became known as the 'Adventurers for land in Ireland.' They undertook to keep the Protestant faith. In Ireland, this distinguished family settled in the county of Wicklow around 1700, where the name was more popularly Twamley." "The democratic attitudes of the New World spread like fire. Many migrated aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the 'White Sails'. The stormy Atlantic, small pox, dysentery, cholera and typhoid took its toll on the settlers and many of these tiny, overcrowded ships arrived with only 60-70% of their passenger list. The migration or banishment to the 'New World' continued, some voluntarily from Ireland, but mostly directly from England or Scotland, their home territories. Some clans and families even moved to the European continent." "In North America, migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the family name Twamley, or variable spellings of that same family name, included Andrew Twamley, who landed in North America in 1700. 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 to Canada. They became known as the 'United Empire Loyalists'. There were many notables of the name Twamley: and the family continued to make important cultural and political contributions to the societies on both sides of the Atlantic."
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Re: Origins of Twamley, Twemloe, et al Surnames, Cont.
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and post that absolutely fascinating information. I will share it with the surviving Baltimore Twamleys. The stories we heard were always that we were English, moved to Wicklow, but your message helps us understand it more fully. Many thanks indeed. Terry MacFarland
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Re: Origins of Twamley, Twemloe, et al Surnames, Cont.
I think the Twamley ancestors were absolutely fascinating! A movie or TV series could be made about them...
I am also attaching the family crest (note: if you would like a bitmap image imbedded in a Word doc, at higher resolution, pls. send me an email request and I will forward it to you).
Pls. keep in touch -- my sister in New Hampshire and I would LOVE to meet the Baltimore clan at some time in the future. Maybe arranging an ancestor reunion would be an ideal scenario?
Cheers, Sherry Twamley
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Re: Origins of Twamley, Twemloe, et al Surnames, Cont.
Bunnies! Are those bunnies on the crest!? Holy cow. Yes, I would love to keep in touch as well. My newly uncovered second cousins were looking for the same ancester--William P., and we met on ancestry.com. As a matter of fact, I reunited my aging mother with a 94 year old first cousin living in Alabama and her son in Texas. It's really interesting, indeed. My gggrandf, although the son of a famine immigrant (also named William P.) married 3 times, went to RPI in Troy NY, and became the surveyor of Baltimore. I just wish I could find out when my William P came over and how, then perhaps I could tie him to someone in Wicklow. But I haven't given up, just concentrating on the Wicklow Cullen side right now! Thanks again. And please write any time.
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Re: Origins of Twamley, Twemloe, et al Surnames, Cont.
The three images on the front of the shield are squirrels, and boars flank the shield's left and right sides.
The image in the attachment is a .gif (very low quality). If you use Microsoft Word and send me your email address, I will forward a better copy of the crest. Ancestry.com will not allow me to upload a higher quality image.
Keep in touch -- let me know how your Cullen research is going! Cheers, Sherry Twamley
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Re: Origins of Twamley, Twemloe, et al Surnames, Cont.
squirells and boars--somehow that fits my family...(ha ha) Good luck in your research and stay in touch. God bless. Terry
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Re: Origins of Twamley, Twemloe, et al Surnames, Cont.
My Twamley ancestors came from Tinehaly, County Wicklow. Robert was born about 1814 and later married in Quebec to Jane Law who was also from the same area as were several members of the family. Do you have any info on the twamleys that went south of the border? WE find references to a Peter Twamley, and a few others who I cannot remember right now.
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Re: Origins of Twamley, Twemloe, et al Surnames, Cont.
There are several posters on this board under the Twamley surname that mention Peter Twamley from Wicklow. You may want to check them out...
Best of Luck!
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Re: Origins of Twamley, Twemloe, et al Surnames, Cont.
Stumbled across this thread today whilst checking my daugther's tree(She is a Twamley from the Yoxall area) Could you send us a word copy of the family crest...rather cheeky, I know, but she would find it fascinating! Many thanks, Julie
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