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This chapter has information on our family history for the period pre-european New Zealand arrival. It has information on both our English and Maori ancestors and our connections to them. Learning about our ancestors is an integral part of learning our history as it not only explains how their deeds and actions have led to us where we are today, but have also shaped who we are today.Any corrections, additional information or pictures relevant to this page are welcome and can be submitted to myself, or through the website contacts in the page footer. Accreditation is given, where applicable. Many thanks to all those who have contributed.
Merv Priestley email
Origin of the Surname PRIESTLEY
Origin of the Surname PRIESTLEY
The surname of Priestley is of Anglo-Saxon origin and was :
a topographical name from residence in or near a priest's meadow. The derivation is from the Olde English pre 7th Century "preost", priest, parson, with "leah", glade, grove, meadow, pasture-land. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages.
a locational name 'of Priestley' a small estate in the neighbourhood of Bradford, in the West Riding of York-shire, Priestley in Bedfordshire, Prestolee (Somerset), Prestolee in South East Lancashire. Locational names were originally given to local landowners, and the lord of the manor, and especially as a means of identification to those who left their place of origin to settle elsewhere.
Priestley Coat of Arms
Priestley Coat of Arms
This Coat of Arms granted to William Priestley of Yorkshire circa 1272. It is a red shield, on a chevron between three silver towers, issuing out of each a gold demi lion rampant, as many black grappling-irons.
Ancient English Paternal Ancestry
Ancient English Paternal Ancestry
The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Samson de Presteleia, which was dated 1198, in the "Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "Richard the Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. Other early examples of the surname include: Richard de Presteley (Yorkshire, 1297) and Walter Prestlegh (Somerset, 1327). Elena de Presteley was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. A later instance of the name mentions William Priestlye who married Margaret Sorrowgold in London in the year 1561.On May 12th 1671, Henry Priestley and Ann White were married in Toddington, Bedfordshire.
The current spelling started somewhat earlier than this and this standard was mostly adopted during the 19th century. The surname in every country has continued to "develop" often leading to variants of the original spelling including Priestlay, Priestly, Prestly, Presly, Pressly. A notable member of these was Elvis Aaron Presly (1935-1977) the American popular singer, born in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Elvis Aaron Presly (1935-1977)
For reasons of simplicity and practicality, this section will only record our English paternal (male) ancestry. The maiden names that do appear on this list, are just the tip of our genealogical iceberg.
The recorded paternal ancestral line of William Augustine Priestley (b. 24 Sep 1871) is as follows:
b.1600-1675
b.1706-1742
b.1783-1841
b.1867-1880
4x Great Grandparents
G1-John Priestley b. 1640, d. 1685
+Alis Wootton b. 1650
2x Great Grandparents
G3-William Priestley b. 29 Dec 1706
+Sarah Taylor b. 1710
Grandparents
G5-Augustine Priestley b. 17 Jun 1783, Buckden, Huntingdonshire, England,
d. 24 Sep 1856, Buckden, Huntingdon, England
+Amelia Scarborough b. 5 May 1795, Buckden, Huntingdonshire, England,d. 28 Jan 1863, Buckden, Huntingdon, England
3x Great Grandparents
G2--Richard Priestley b. 2 Mar 1672, d. Mar 1738
Parents
G6-Charles Priestley b. 13 Jun 1826, Buckden, Huntingdonshire, England. d. 15 May 1889 Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand
+Taraipine Tatua b. 1841, Gisborne, New Zealand, d. 25 Jul 1894 Gisborne, New Zealand
Siblings (all born in Waihau, Gisborne, New Zealand)
G7-Stephen Priestley b. 28 Jun 1867, d. 13 Nov 1944.
G7-Charles Priestley b. 11 Jan 1869, d. 10 Jan 1950
G7-William Augustine Priestley b. 24 Sep 1871, d. 19 Dec 1937
G7-George Patterson Priestley b. 19 Nov 1872, d. Sep 1938
G7-Amelia Jane Priestley b. 10 Mar 1874, d. Abt 1884
G7-Lydia Maria Priestley b. 12 Jul 1876, d. 5 Jan 1877
G7-Sarah Harrriett Priestley b. 1878, d. 1881
G7-Wi Kepa Priestley b. 13 Jan 1880, d. 24 Sep 1894
With the Priestley name originating from any number of possible locations within England (as indicated above), and with no reliable record, we can only speculate as to where our paternal ancestors actually did originate.
If we are, to adopt an English place of origin, then the village of Buckden, would be a good choice, due to the fact that at least 3 direct generations of our ancestors resided there and 2 of those generations are buried there.
William Augustine Priestley
b. 24 Sep 1871, d. 19 Dec 1937
Ancient Māori Maternal Ancestry
Ancient Māori Maternal Ancestry
This section recognises our Māori maternal (female) ancestry...
that of William Augustine Priestley's mother, Taraipine Tatua, an d of his wife, Kate Campbell.
Click on the Images to Enlarge
With much of our māori ancestory being that of the Ngāti Porou and Rongowhakaata iwi (tribes), it's fair to say that our Priestley Māori roots are firmly embedded in many places along Te Tai Rawiti o Aotearoa (the East Coast of New Zealand).
And although a little sketchy, these ancestry lines include many of Ngāti Porou's mythical, royal and legendary icons.
Pawa / Pāoa
The chief of the Horouta canoe, which brought the first inhabitants to the East Coast around 1250 AD.
Porourangi
Ngāti Porou iwi's namesake. They took Porourangi’s name partly because his descendants included great warriors and those who made the strategic alliances which laid the foundations of the Ngati Porou tribe.
Paikea
A mythic ancestor of the Ngati Porou tribe. Various legends say he came from Hawaiki to Whangara, just north of Gisborne, riding on the back of a taniwha. His legend inspired Witi Ihimeara's 1987 novel, Whale Rider, and the subsequent 2003 cinema film.
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