by Gary. M. Anstey, chief researcher of the Anstey story project.
When conducting genealogical research into the ‘Anstey’, Ansty’, ‘Anstee’ and ‘Anstie’s, it makes sense to focus on principal, major and minor sub-branches, and how they connect together like blocks of lego. For example, I can trace my ‘Anstey’ ancestral line back many centuries by connecting together the following Anstey sub-branches:
- I am a Stoke Gifford Anstey (a major sub-branch);
- the Stoke Gifford Ansteys are a sub-branch of the Dyrham Ansteys (the principal sub-branch of the South Gloucestershire Ansteys);
- the Dyrham Ansteys are a sub-branch of the Dulverton Ansteys (the principal sub-branch of the South West Peninsula Ansteys);
- the Dulverton Ansteys are a sub-branch of the Stow Quy Anstys of Cambridgeshire, who lived in extraordinary opulence in the 1400s and early 1500s;
- the Stow Quy Anstys are a sub-branch of the medieval Edmonton Ansteys; and
- the medieval Edmonton Ansteys are part of the medieval Anstey pedigree commenced in 1143 by Hubert de Anesti, the originator of the ‘Anstey’ surname.
We have classified all modern (post-1500) ‘Anstey’, Ansty’, ‘Anstee’ and ‘Anstie’s into one of 8 principal sub-branches, which split into about 50 major sub-branches, and then around 75 minor sub-branches of the major sub-branches.
Within these Anstey sub-branches, we are gradually adding as many ‘Anstey’ biographies as we can – click on the relevant Anstey sub-branch links below for a listing of individual Anstey’, Ansty’, ‘Anstee’ and ‘Anstie’ biographies currently documented for that sub-branch, for which access can be purchased via the Anstey Shop.
[Note: If an ‘Anstey’ biography has been written and uploaded to this website project it will have a 3 or 4 character code next to it (2 letters for the sub-branch code followed by 1 or 2 digits identifying the Anstey within that sub-branch). For example my co-Anstey researcher Thomas John Edmund Anstey (Tom) can be found in the Stoke Gifford Anstey sub-branch listing as code ‘SG 30’]
The current list of Anstey’, Ansty’, ‘Anstee’ and ‘Anstie’ sub-branches, together with their sub-branch codes, are (by location):
Brown, Kansas Ansteys (Code ‘BR‘ – minor sub-branch of the Devonport Ansteys)
Chester, Pennsylvania Ansteys (Code ‘CP‘ – minor sub-branch of the Dyrham Ansteys)
Cumberland, Iowa Ansteys (Code ‘CU‘ – minor sub-branch of the Stoke Gifford Ansteys)
Grand Rapids, Michigan Ansteys (Code ‘GP‘ – minor sub-branch)
Grand River, Iowa Ansteys (Code ‘GR‘ – minor sub-branch of the Stoke Gifford Ansteys)
Grant, Wisconsin Ansteys (Code ‘GT‘ – minor sub-branch of the Stoke Gifford Ansteys)
Lyons, NY Anstees (Code ‘LY‘ – minor sub-branch)
Massena, Iowa Ansteys (Code ‘MA‘ – minor sub-branch of the Llandenny Ansteys)
Minersville, Pennsylvania Ansteys (Code ‘MI‘ – minor sub-branch of the Dyrham Ansteys)
New York City, NY Ansteys (Code ‘NY‘ – minor sub-branch of the Trumpington Ansteys)
Portland, Oregon Ansteys (Code ‘PT‘ – minor sub-branch of the Washfield Ansteys)
Salt Lake City, Utah Anstees (Code ‘SL‘ – minor sub-branch of the Barnet Anstees)
Silver Bow, Montana Ansteys (Code ‘SB‘ – minor sub-branch of the St Gluvias Ansteys)
St Albans, Vermont Ansteys (Code ‘SA‘ – minor sub-branch of the Aynho Ansteys)
Sweetwater, Wyoming Anstees (Code ‘SY‘ – minor sub-branch of the Christchurch Anstees)
Utica, NY Ansteys (Code ‘UT‘ – minor sub-branch of the Sixpenny Handley Ansteys)
Waukesha, Wisconsin Ansteys (Code ‘WK‘ – minor sub-branch of the Witheridge Ansteys)
Aldinga, South Australia Ansteys (Code ‘AL‘ – minor sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Ballarat, Victoria Ansteys (Code ‘BV‘ – minor sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Exeter, Tasmania Ansties (Code ‘EX‘ – minor sub-branch of the Devizes Ansties)
Gippsland, Victoria Ansteys (Code ‘GI‘ – minor sub-branch of the Milverton Ansteys)
Kilmore, Victoria Anstees (Code ‘KL‘ – minor sub-branch of the Thornborough Anstees)
Majorca, Victoria Anstees (Code ‘MJ‘ – minor sub-branch of the Swanbourne Anstees)
Newcastle, NSW Anstys (Code ‘NC‘ – minor sub-branch of the East Stoke Ansteys)
Newtown, NSW Ansteys (Code ‘NT‘ – minor sub-branch of the St Gluvias Ansteys)
Port Elliot, South Australia Ansteys (Code ‘PE‘ – minor sub-branch of the Bampton Ansteys)
St Kilda, Victoria Ansteys (Code ‘SK‘ – minor sub-branch of the Chulmleigh Ansteys)
Subiaco, Western Australia Ansteys (Code ‘SU‘ – minor sub-branch of the Swanbourne Anstees)
Toodyay, Western Australia Ansteys (Code ‘TD‘ – minor sub-branch of the Iddesleigh Ansteys)
Wollongong, NSW Ansteys (Code ‘WL‘ – minor sub-branch of the St Gluvias Ansteys)
Yangan, Queensland Ansteys (Code ‘YG‘ – minor sub-branch of the Rugby Ansteys)
Bedfordshire:
Caddington Ansteys (Code ‘CD‘ – Anstey-extinct sub-branch)
Houghton Regis Anstees (Code ‘HR‘ – major sub-branch of the Prittlewell Anstees)
Potsgrove Anstees (Code ‘PO‘ – major sub-branch of the Swanbourne Anstees)
Toddington Anstees (Code ‘TO‘ – minor sub-branch of the Houghton Regis Anstees)
Berkshire:
Blewbury Ansteys (Code ‘BW‘ – principal sub-branch of the Berkshire Ansteys)
Buckinghamshire:
Edlesborough Anstees (Code ‘ED‘ – major sub-branch of the Houghton Regis Anstees)
Ivinghoe Anstees (Code ‘IV‘ – major sub-branch of the Flamstead Anstees)
Newport Pagnell Anstees (Code ‘NP‘ – Anstey-extinct sub-branch of the medieval Warwickshire Ansteys)
Swanbourne Anstees (Code ‘SW‘ – a principal sub-branch of the medieval Warwickshire Ansteys)
Thornborough Anstees (Code ‘TH‘ – minor sub-branch of the Swanbourne Anstees)
Cambridgeshire:
Stow Quy Anstys (Code ‘SQ’ – a principal medieval Anstey sub-branch)
Trumpington Ansteys (Code ‘TR‘ – major sub-branch of the Blewbury Ansteys)
Caradoc, Ontario Ansteys (Code ‘CI‘ – minor sub-branch of the Kennford Ansteys)
Huron, Ontario Anstays (Code ‘HN‘)
Kamloops, BC Ansteys (Code ‘KP‘ – minor sub-branch of the Rugby Ansteys)
London, Ontario Ansties (Code ‘LO‘ – minor sub-branch of the Devizes Ansties)
Wentworth, Ontario Ansteys (not a sub-branch – contain members of numerous sub-branches)
Whitby, Ontario Ansteys (Code ‘WH‘ – minor sub-branch of the Exminster Ansteys)
Cornwall:
St Gluvias Ansteys (Code ‘GL‘ – major sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Tywardreath Ansteys (Code ‘TY‘ – minor sub-branch of the Broadclyst Ansteys)
Devon:
Bampton Ansteys (Code ‘BM‘ – major sub-branch of the Dulverton Ansteys)
Bradninch Ansteys (Code ‘BN‘ – major sub-branch of the Bathealton Ansteys)
Brixton, Devon Ansteys (Code ‘BX‘ – minor sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Broadclyst Ansteys (Code ‘BC‘ – minor sub-branch of the Washfield Ansteys)
Calverleigh Ansteys (Code ‘CV‘ – Anstey-extinct sub-branch of the Washfield Ansteys)
Chulmleigh Ansteys (Code ‘CG‘ – major sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Crediton Ansteys (Code ‘CR‘ – major sub-branch of the Dulverton Ansteys)
Crediton Ansteys (Code ‘CT‘ – major sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Devonport Ansteys (Code ‘DV‘ – major sub-branch of the Crediton Ansteys)
Dowland Ansteys (Code ‘DW‘ – minor sub-branch of the Iddesleigh Ansteys)
Exeter Ansteys (not a sub-branch – contain members of numerous sub-branches)
Exminster Ansteys (Code ‘EM‘ – major sub-branch of the Crediton Ansteys)
Filleigh Ansteys (Code ‘FI‘ – minor sub-branch of the Iddesleigh Ansteys)
Iddesleigh Ansteys (Code ‘ID‘ – major sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Juryhayes Ansteys (Code ‘JU‘ – minor sub-branch of the Washfield Ansteys)
Kennford Ansteys (Code ‘KN‘ – major sub-branch of the Crediton Ansteys)
Tiverton Ansteys (not a sub-branch – contain members of numerous sub-branches)
Washfield Ansteys (Code ‘WA‘ – major sub-branch of the Dulverton Ansteys)
‘West Anstey’ Ansteys (not a sub-branch – contain members of numerous sub-branches)
Witheridge Ansteys (Code ‘WT‘ – major sub-branch of the Chulmleigh Ansteys)
Blandford Forum Anstys (Code ‘BF‘ – major sub-branch of the Tarrant Crawford Ansteys)
Buckland Newton Anstys (Code ‘BD‘ – likely Anstey-extinct sub-branch of the Tarrant Crawford Ansteys
Dorchester Anstys (Code ‘DR‘ – major sub-branch of the Blandford Forum Anstys)
East Stoke Ansteys (Code ‘ES‘ – major sub-branch of the Sixpenny Handley Ansteys)
Gussage Ansteys (Code ‘GS‘ – major sub-branch of the Tarrant Crawford Ansteys)
Hampreston Ansteys (Code ‘HP‘ – Anstey-extinct sub-branch)
Poole Ansteys (Code ‘PL‘ – major sub-branch)
Sixpenny Handley Ansteys (Code ‘SX‘ – major sub-branch of the Tarrant Crawford Ansteys)
Tarrant Crawford Ansteys (Code ‘TC‘ – principal sub-branch of the Dorset (II) Ansteys)
Tarrant Keyneston Anstys (Code ‘TK‘ – major sub-branch of the Tarrant Crawford Ansteys)
Essex:
Prittlewell Anstees (Code ‘PR‘ – major sub-branch of the Swanbourne Anstees)
Glamorgan:
Clase, Swansea Ansteys (Code ‘CL‘ – minor sub-branch of the Bathealton Ansteys)
Hertfordshire:
Flamstead Anstees (Code ‘FL‘ – major sub-branch of the Prittlewell Anstees)
Hemel Hempstead Anstees (Code ‘HH‘ – Anstey-extinct sub-branch of the Swanbourne Anstees)
Kent:
Chatham Ansteys (Code ‘CM‘ – minor sub-branch)
Leicestershire:
Market Harborough Anstees (Code ‘MH‘ – major sub-branch of the Swanbourne Anstees)
London/Middlesex:
Barnet Anstees (Code ‘BA‘ – major sub-branch of the Houghton Regis Anstees)
London Ansteys (not a sub-branch – contain members of numerous sub-branches)
Marylebone Anstees (Code ‘MB‘ – minor sub-branch of the Edlesborough Anstees)
Shoreditch Ansteys (Code ‘SD‘ – minor sub-branch of the Crediton Ansteys)
St Luke, Holborn Ansteys (Code ‘LU‘ – major sub-branch of the Crediton Ansteys)
Monmouthshire:
Christchurch Anstees (Code ‘CH‘ – major sub-branch of the Dyrham Ansteys)
Llandenny Ansteys (Code ‘LD‘ – major sub-branch of the Stoke Gifford Ansteys)
Pontyclun Anstees (Code ‘PC‘ – minor sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Riccarton Ansteys (Code ‘RC‘ – minor sub-branch)
Timaru Ansteys (Code ‘TM‘ – minor sub-branch of the Juryhayes Ansteys)
Back Harbour, Twillingate Ansteys (Code ‘BK‘ – major Twillingate sub-division)
Bluff Head Cove, Twillingate Ansteys (Code ‘BU‘ – major Twillingate sub-division)
Exploits, Twillingate Ansteys (Code ‘EP‘ – major Twillingate sub-division)
Garnish, Fortune Bay Ansteys (Code ‘GA‘)
Lewisporte, Twillingate Ansteys (Code ‘LP‘ – major Twillingate sub-division)
Little Bay, Twillingate Ansteys (Code ‘LB‘ – major Twillingate sub-division)
Paradise Cove, Twillingate Ansteys (Code ‘PD‘ – major Twillingate sub-division)
Purcell’s Harbour, Twillingate Ansteys (Code ‘PH‘ – major Twillingate sub-division)
Springdale, Twillingate Ansteys (Code ‘SP‘ – major Twillingate sub-division)
Twillingate Ansteys (Code ‘TW‘ – major sub-branch of the Poole Ansteys)
Northamptonshire:
Aynho Ansteys (Code ‘AY‘ – minor sub-branch of the Souldern Ansteys)
Evenley Anstees (Code ‘EV‘ – minor sub-branch of the Souldern Ansteys)
Oxfordshire:
Souldern Ansteys (Code ‘SO‘ – a principal sub-branch of the medieval Warwickshire Ansteys)
Stratton Audley Anstees (Code ‘ST‘ – minor sub-branch of the Swanbourne Anstees)
Bathealton Ansteys (Code ‘BL‘ – major sub-branch of the Washfield Ansteys)
Batheaston Ansteys (Code ‘BS‘ – minor sub-branch of the Dyrham Ansteys)
Camerton Ansteys (Code ‘CN‘ – major sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Castle Cary Ansteys (Code ‘CC‘ – major sub-branch of an Austin family)
Chewton Mendip Ansteys (Code ‘CW‘ – major sub-branch of an Anstis family)
Curry Rivel Ansteys (Code ‘CY‘ – minor sub-branch of the Dulverton Ansteys)
Cutcombe Ansteys (Code ‘CB‘ – Anstey-extinct sub-branch of the Dulverton Ansteys)
Dulverton Ansteys (Code ‘DU‘ – principal sub-branch of the South West Peninsula Ansteys)
Milborne Port Anstys (Code ‘MP‘ – major sub-branch)
Milverton Ansteys (Code ‘MV‘ – minor sub-branch of the Washfield Ansteys)
Timsbury Ansteys (Code ‘TS‘ – major sub-branch of the Camerton Ansteys)
Johannesburg Ansteys (Code ‘JH‘ – minor sub-branch of the Juryhayes Ansteys)
Bristol Ansteys (not a sub-branch – contain members of numerous sub-branches)
Doynton Anstees (Code ‘DO‘ – major sub-branch of the Dyrham Ansteys)
Dyrham Ansteys (Code ‘DY‘ – principal sub-branch of the South Gloucestershire Ansteys)
Stoke Gifford Ansteys (Code ‘SG‘ – major sub-branch of the Dyrham Ansteys)
Birmingham Ansteys (Code ‘BI‘ – major sub-branch of the Coleshill Ansteys)
Coleshill Ansteys (Code ‘CO‘ – major sub-branch of the Hampton in Arden Ansteys)
Coventry Ansteys (not a sub-branch – contain members of numerous sub-branches)
Hampton in Arden Ansteys (Code ‘HA‘ – a principal sub-branch of the medieval Warwickshire Ansteys)
Leamington Hastings Ansteys (Code ‘LH‘ – sub-branch of the medieval Warwickshire Ansteys)
Rugby Ansteys (Code ‘RG‘ – minor sub-branch of the Trumpington Ansteys)
Wappenbury Ansteys (Code ‘WP‘ – Anstey-extinct sub-branch of the medieval Warwickshire Ansteys)
Wiltshire:
Bromham Ansteys (Code ‘BH‘ – principal sub-branch of the Wiltshire Ansteys)
Devizes Ansties (Code ‘DZ‘ – major sub-branch of the Bromham Ansteys)