There has been a great deal of speculation that the Estes family descended from the House of
Este
in Italy. Part of this is due to the fact that the Estes family in England firmly believed
this,
in part, because the monarchy believed it. King James I of England and Scotland was convinced
that a gentleman in his service by the name of East was in fact a descendent of the d’Este
family
and suggested he change his name to Este. One didn’t argue with the King, and I have to wonder
if the King thought that for a reason. In other words, he may have been right.
>extract<..“About the year 1097, Albert Azzo II, Marquis of Liquria was born (actually 996-
1097) and his history is commensurate with the lapse of the 11th century. He was the
acknowledged founder of the houses of both Este and Brunswick the former were conspicuous in
Italy as late as the middle of the 18th century when their direct line failed with the death of
Hercules III, he being the twenty-second generation from Azzo II; the latter (House of
Brunswick) after centuries of time, emerge from their quiet stations as Dukes of Brunswick and
Hanover, and occupy the most prominent positions in Europe as British Kings.”
“One branch however, of the Italian family exists in America. The Marquis Aldobrandino, about the middle of the 14th century, in order to procure means for prosecuting a war against the Auconites, hypothecated (pledged) his younger brother to the usurers (money lenders) of Florence. The untimely death of the Marquis put an end to the war but left his brother unredeemed. These were the sons of Azzo VI. The younger brother did not return to his ancestral home on the accession of the seventh Azzo (another older brother) but proceeded to France, thence to England, where he became acquainted with the family of Lord Bacon, then moved from England to Wales, always maintaining a position of influence and respectability, inheriting the distinguishing traits of character and talents possessed by their ancestors. From Wales they immigrated to Virginia. “
“The name Este is derived from a colony planted in the seventh century of Rome, about fifteen miles to the south of the City of Pudau, and called Ateste, or Este a name known in history 136 years B.C. This is the surname the Marquises of Liquria assumed in the beginning of the fourteenth century, namely Marquises of Este, and their descendants, have ever since assumed the surname, Este. The name written Estes is plural, and was used to represent the whole family; thus Byron, in his Parisina speaks of the Estes:
“And if she sets in Este’s bower,
“Tis not for the sake of its full bloom flower:”
– or is meant to convey, belonging to the family. The name is more frequently written Estes than as it should be, Este.”
***************
“You will see by the above that the Estes name represents a family, one of the oldest and also one of the most illustrious, living in the world; though short, this will give you an inkling of the American Estes’ and show you that the antique brood of Este is still in existence.”
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