Last name: Acey

This is a surname of pre 8th century baptismal origins. Recorded in a wide a variety of surname spellings, all quite rare, and including Ace, Ayce, Acey, Asee, Asey, etc., the derivation is from the Norman-French given name 'Ace', itself a dialectal transposition of the 5th century Frankish 'Adso and Atso'. The original meaning of this word was "noble", and as such in addition to being a given name on its own, it was also used as the prefix to the popular compound given names of the day. Examples of these compounds include Adshelm, "noble protector", and Atsalberht, "noble-bright". "Azo", on its own, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, whilst "Asce Halveniht" (Ace, the half knight), is recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Hampshire in the year 1213. Other examples include John Ace in the 1246 register of St Bartholomews Hospital, London, and Geoffry Aze in the 1296 subsidy rolls of the county of Sussex. The following entries in early church registers include Alyxsander Asye, who was married in London in 1556 during the reign of Queen Mary 1st, known as "Bloody Mary", William Asee, also married in London at St Giles Cripplegate in 1631, and Alice Asey, who married Thomas Culver at St. Helen's Bishopsgate, London, in 1655. Eliezer Acey married Mrs Anne Fox at Cockerham, Lancashire, on November 30th 1710, and Alice Acey married William Henshaw at Manchester Cathedral, on March 6th 1869. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Benedict Ace, which was dated 1230, "The Close Rolls of Hampshire", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Visitor Comments

gerald
The explanation given is only part of the story. Acey in Holderness is Scandinavian (or Old English). See 'Scandinavian Personal Names in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire', Gillian Fellows Jensen, Copenhagen, I kommission hos Akademisk forlag, 1968. This mentions, inter alia, Ricardus f. Ase, fined in Lincoln in 1191, and Æse inscription ? 10th, St Mary’s Church, York, Ekwall Selected Papers 57. – Asi TRE DB 308r. I have quite a bit of information on Acey in Holderness/the East Riding.

Susan (Acey) Husser
Not too many Acey's around. My maiden name is Acey. Why do you have interest in the name Acey?

Keith Ellis
My wifes Mother was an Acey and her Father was born in Hollym in East Yorks. Any info would be appreciated

Sarah Acey
My surname is Acey too, There are hardly any of families with our surname!

Acey Teasdale
My first name is Acey. I was told it was a common nickname in 1800s from the name Esther.

Daniel Acey
Lots of Acey's still in East Yorkshire.

Evan Acey
My name is Evan Acey, never ran across another Acey outside of my family. Was told by my grandmother that Acey was derived from Asee and i never believed her until now.

Dalynnda
I was told acey was derived from a Syrian name spelled differently. please help. ru any of u in the U.S.?

Chris Acey
My family name is Acey on my fathers side. They originate in York.