Me and Alfred the Great

Have you ever wondered how Yorkshire you are? I’m not talking about participating in one of those internet surveys where you’re asked if you greet a person with ‘ey up’ ‘sithee’ or ‘narthen’, but more on the lines of how far back your Yorkshire ancestry goes.
While delving into my own family roots I uncovered something really surprising – no, not that I’m actually from Lancashire (I wouldn’t be readily spreading that kind of knowledge now would I?). Before I unveil the surprise, let me tell you about how it all started.
About forty years ago, my Dad informed me that he’d been told one of his ancestors was a Lord of the Manor in the Settle area. It was the spur I needed to dig into our past.
I traced the male Jackson line back to the 1400s. The family and branch lines were almost all concentrated around the West Riding and Pennine hills, moving from an agricultural background into more industrial occupations as the area became one of the country’s leading textile centres.
We had (sympathetic) ties with the Luddites, and produced some fine local citizens of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but nothing the TV producers would consider worthy of featuring on Who Do You Think You Are?.
I had two DNA tests with different firms, and both confirmed that the bulk of my genes are strongly associated with Viking or Anglo-Saxon invaders. Assessing my genealogical and ancestry charts, it seems that more than 90 per cent of my ancestors over the last 600 years were born in Yorkshire.
No sign of the elusive Lord of the Manor, however. After a lull in research when family and work got in the way, I picked up the strands of a line on my mother’s side.
One of her great-grandmas was a lady called Ellen Jessop who was born at Earlsheaton, near Dewsbury, the daughter of clothier Benjamin Jessop who was born in 1775. Jessop is not a very common name – although there are plenty around Yorkshire – so tracing the family proved fairly straight forward.
I tracked Jessops via the Mirfield and Kirkburton areas right back to the 1450s and some landowning families in the Rotherham area. The impressive Broom Hall in Sheffield became home for one wealthier branch of the Jessops in the sixteenth century.
But my attention was grabbed further on discovering that my 12x great-grandfather, Richard Jessop (1530-1580), married Anne Swift in Rotherham. The Swifts were a prominent family of the time. Anne’s grandfather was Sir Robert Swift, a Sheriff of Yorkshire, who was knighted in York by James I in 1603 while his majesty was on his way to take possession of the throne of England.
At this stage of my investigations I felt satisfied to have connected with some wealthy, landowning toffs whose documented pedigree took me back to an Anthony Swift, born in 1420 – my 16x great-grandfather.
I later discovered that Anthony had married Fern Surtees in Rotherham in 1444. The surname fascinated me, and with it being unusual – and as I found, well-documented – I soon picked up the Surtees scent.
The family who were first recorded as having the surname Surtees, claim to be descended from a ruler called Siward (or Sigurd), a Scandinavian who became earl of Northumbria in the 11th century. Siward was in control of vast areas of the north and in particular what we now know as Yorkshire.
The ruling families of that time often gave themselves names and titles so everyone knew of their power and wealth. The big-wig family in the area around Dinsdale, on the border between the old kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira (roughly Northumberland and Yorkshire respectively) called themselves ‘super Teisam’ – Latin for ‘on the Tees’, referring to the river.
Ranulf super Teisam was around in the 1100s and was also recorded as Ranulf de Dinsdale. The family became well established in the area and over the years their surname was eventually written as Surteyse, Surteys and by the late 1300s as Surtees.
It turns out that Fern Surtees, my 16x great-grandmother, was daughter of Sir Richard Surtees of Dinsdale whose own father was Sir Alexander Surtees, born in 1357 and Sheriff of Northumberland. This pedigree is well documented way back to the aforementioned Siward.
Historians say that this line goes directly back to Oswald Cyning, King of Bernicia, an invasion leader whose descendants lived at an early Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland. I’ve always had a soft spot for that place but hadn’t realised my 35x great-grandfather had called it home. I must introduce myself next time I’m up there.
The line back to Oswald also branches sideways to Scandinavian royalty, but going back to my 28x great-grandfather, Aelsi de Teisa (Lord of Over Dinsdale) I discovered a link to our own royal family. Bear with me …
Aelsi married Egfrida FitzGamel who was daughter of Orm Fitzgamel. Our Orm (as I like to call him) married Etheldreda, granddaughter of Ethelred (The Unready – now there’s a family trait). This Ethelred is our present Queen Elizabeth’s 28x great-grandafther, and also my 31x great-grandfather. Therefore, Liz and I are both descended from Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, born 847.
Before anyone starts begging me for royal favours, I should point out that genealogists reckon millions of us are in some way or other related to ancient Viking and Anglo-Saxon invaders and also our present royal family. Finding the link is the tricky bit, though, and requires patience and perseverance – and about 40 years in my case. Now, after that diversion, I’m back to finding that link to Settle’s Lord of the Manor …

(Please note that I am an amateur genealogist and historian. To hire a professional to check and verify all the links in my tree is well beyond my pension.)

I’ve been researching my family tree for many years. To help other genealogists, here is a list of some of the surnames included in my tree – if you want further information about any of the families mentioned, feel free to contact me via the comments section on the home page. The vast majority of families included here are from the Yorkshire area.

Last Name – Usage – Earliest Date – Latest Date

ASHWORTH 12 1772 1908

ASPIN 3 1874 1900

ASQUITH 34 1663 1936

ATKINSON 10 1825 1868

AUSTIN 1 Oct 1925 8 Aug 2016

Aston 2 1741 1854

BARBER 9 1654 1852

BARKER 6 1565 27 Dec 1769

BARRANS 2 1858 1872

BLACKBURN 8 1707 1832

BLAKELEY 1 1806 1806

BOULD 2 1775 1775

BOYS 2 1725 1725

BRACEWELL 7 1696 1822

BRAY 7 1791 1881

BRAYSHAW 7 1862 1905

BRIGG 1 1796 1796

BRIGGS 1 1690 1690

BROOK 30 1796 17 Jun 1898

BROOKE 2 10 Mar 1619 13 Aug 1662

BROOKSBANK 32 1791 8 Aug 2016

BROWN 2 1788 1862

BUCKLEY 12 8 Oct 1787 1890

BURTON 1 1743 1743

Bailey 3 1763 1858

Bedford 1 1821 1821

Brearley 1

Bright 1 1566 1615

Broadbent 1

Bromsgrove 2 1741 1866

Bullus 2 1567 1638

Burland 2 1795 1894

CALVERT 1

CAWOOD 20 1590 1901

CHILD 2 1657 1683

COPLEY 2 1791 1791

CORDLEY 1 1695 1695

CORRISON 3 1827 1986

COULTAS 5 1705 1716

CRAWSHAW 1 1792 1873

CROFT 12 1773 1811

Clarke 1

Clayton 1

Cook 3 1825 1880

Crosby 9 1765 1949

Cudmore 1

DALE 1

DAWSON 13 1781 1860

DENTON 1

DEWHIRST 2 1780 1853

DILLWORTH 10 1771 1789

DILWORTH 6 29 Dec 1776 1835

Denham 1 1775 1775

Dews 1

EDMONDSON 24 1810 1997

EMSLEY 1 1789 1789

EXLEY 1 1744 1744

Earl 1 1787 1875

Ellis 1 1858 1921

FAWTHROP 9 1774 13 May 1852

FIELD 1

FIELDING 1

FIRTH 2 1605 1804

FORREST 1

FOULDS 5 1830 1865

FOXE 4 1521 1596

FRANCE 2 21 Oct 1780 21 Oct 1780

Fletcher 1 1851 1851

GARSIDE 2 22 Feb 1761 22 Feb 1761

GELDART 1 1651 1651

GIBSON 7 1799 1873

GILL 1 1947 8 Aug 2016

GOODALL 3 1845 1879

GORRILL 2 1686 1716

GREENWOOD 22 1812 1893

Gledhill 1

Gould 1

Green 2 1871 8 Aug 2016

HAIGH 6 1745 1794

HALEY 18 25 Nov 1716 1859

HAMPSON 5 1778 1805

HANNAM 3 1723 31 Aug 1773

HANSON 1 1922 8 Aug 2016

HARDCASTLE 2 18 Mar 1802 18 Mar 1802

HARDY 2 29 Jan 1693 5 Apr 1772

HARGREAVE 1

HARRISON 2

HAY 1 1749 1749

HEMYNE 1 1661 1713

HEPWORTH 52 1718 8 Aug 2016

HEY 1

HIGGINBOTTOM

HINSLIFF (HINCHCLIFF) 2 1711 1723

HIRST 4 1588 1663

HOBSON 11 1545 8 Aug 2016

HOLDEN 5 1832 1876

HUGHES 1

Hinchcliffe 1 1879 1942

Hine 1 1871 1909

Hodson 1 1749 1749

ILLINGWORTH 1

INMAN 23 1730 8 Aug 2016

Ibberson 2 1898 8 Aug 2016

Ineson 1 1831 1831

Inness 1

JACKSON 122 28 Feb 1613 8 Aug 2016

JESSOP 14 21 Jul 1745 1907

JONES 4 12 Oct 1985 8 Aug 2016

JOWETT 12 1766 1850

JOY 53 10 May 1731 27 Nov 1982

Jolliffe 9 1716 1850

KAYE 1

KEEN 6 1921 8 Aug 2016

KERSHAW 8 1778 1849

Kay 1 1786 22 Sep 1848

Kendal 1 1730 1730

Knowles 2 1874 1874

LEDGARD 7 4 May 1758 27 Oct 1824

LEE 1 1749 1 Oct 1809

LILEY 21 1796 Dec 1942

LOFT 2 1692 1692

LONGBOTTOM 1

Lambert 1

Ledsham 1 1775 1843

Lindsay 1 1877 1877

Lockatt 2 1785 1785

Lynam 1

MALLABURN 3 22 Feb 1999 8 Aug 2016

MARSDEN 10 1765 1916

MUDD 1 1919 2005

MUFFIT 2

MYERS 2 1765 1765

MacWilliams 1 1788 1828

Mitchell 1 1663 1663

Moffatt 1

Mortimer 1

Moseley 1 1870 1870

NAYLOR 2 1639 1855

NEWSOME 3 1729 1824

NORCLIFFE 2 1623 1649

Owthwaite 1

PARKE 1 1617 1617

PARKER 2 28 Jul 1742 28 Jul 1742

PICKARD 1

PICKERSGILL 1 1707 1707

PINDER 1

POPPLEWELL 18 1674 1748

PRESTON 1

PRIEST 1 1857 1857

PRIESTLEY 1

Parish 1 1818 1889

Parkin 1 1862 1862

Parton 1 1590 1590

Peel 2 1853 1853

Peer 1 1750 1794

RAYNER 7 19 Oct 1731 1758

REDMAINE 2 1730 1730

REYNOR 1

RHODES 2 1542 7 Oct 1649

RICHARDSON 15 1814 1955

RILEY 4 29 May 1802 22 Jul 1827

ROBINSON 3 1726 1798

ROUSE 3 1696 1724

ROWSE 12 1666 1725

Ryder 1

SASSELLS 1 1619 1 Dec 1675

SCHOLEFIELD 8 1719 3 Apr 1810

SCHOLFIELD 1 1796 1796

SCOTT 3 1792 1792

SECKER 2 1799 1840

SINGER 1 1776 1776

SMITH 37 30 Nov 1794 1886

SOUTH 8 2 Aug 1964 8 Aug 2016

STEPHENSON 1 1801 1801

STOTT 1

SUTHERD 1 1696 1768

SYKES 1

Sales 1 1941 8 Aug 2016

Sefton 3 1779 1888

Sheppard 1 1855 1855

Shooter 1 1547 1547

Simpson 1 1633 1654

Spivey 1

Starks 2 1816 1846

Stokes 1 1742 1822

TENNANT 8 1740 1902

THOMPSON 1

TOWNEND 17 1744 1901

Turton 1 1875 1875

Uln 1 1795 1867

Varley 1 1824 1824

WALBANK 1

WALKER 2

WALLBANK 2 1 Aug 1773 3 Mar 1803

WALSH 1

WARDMAN 2 1806 1806

WATSON 1

WEBSTER 2 1720 1720

WESTERN 1

WHITAKER 1

WILBY 8 1682 1726

WILCOCK 9 1545 1592

WILDMAN 31 14 May 1570 1820

WILLIAMSON 1

WILSON 5 1534 27 Aug 1670

WRATHALL 5 1729 1798

WRAYTHALL 1 1703 1703

Wales 2 1821 1854

Wardrope 1 1910 1959

Weatherill 1 1791 1856

Wedgwood 2 1767 15 Jan 1852

Wharton 1

White 2 1838 1838

Wickham 8 1823 1860

Wilkinson 26 1730 1952

Woolley 25 1750 1998

Wright 16 1687 8 Aug 2016

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