The Annesley name is woven through the history of County Down, carried by one of Ulster’s notable landed families and tied to one of its most beautiful estates.
Where does the Annesley surname come from?
Annesley is an English name of Norman descent that became firmly established in Ireland. The Irish line is generally traced to Sir Francis Annesley, who held office under James I in the early seventeenth century and acquired lands across several counties. From that foundation the family rose through the Irish peerage, in time holding the titles of Viscount Glerawly and Earl Annesley.
The Earls Annesley of Castlewellan
The family’s great seat was at Castlewellan in County Down, where the Annesleys built Castlewellan Castle in the Scottish-baronial style and laid out an arboretum and demesne beneath the Mourne Mountains. The grounds survive today as a much-loved forest park. The family motto, often given as Virtutis Amore — “by love of virtue” — sits well with a name long associated with that corner of Ulster.
Related Irish family names
If your roots run through Ulster, you may also recognise Acheson, Archdall, and Ancketill.
The family crest and tartan artwork shown on our Annesley products is decorative work inspired by Irish heraldic tradition, offered to celebrate the name rather than as a claim to any individual’s right to arms.
Carry the Annesley name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the Annesley collection here.