He was the all-American film pioneer who brought joy to millions with his children’s films. 

Today, the firm started by Walt Disney in the United States in 1923 celebrates its 100th anniversary.

But, it was during a visit to the UK in 1949 that history was truly made. 

While in the country to supervise the filming of Treasure Island in 1949, Walt made an impromptu visit to the tiny village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire to trace his distant ancestry.

Accompanied by his wife and children, he found the family crest of his reputed ancestor Sir William d’Isney, on the 14th-century figure’s tomb in Norton Disney’s St Peter’s Church.

As a tribute to Walt’s discovery, those three lions have featured in the famous title sequence of every Disney film since 2006.

A flag bearing the crest is seen fluttering at the top of Sleeping Beauty’s castle in the short clip and has been reproduced at Disneyland parks across the world since 1965. 

While in the country to supervise the filming of Treasure Island in 1949, Walt Disney made an impromptu visit to the tiny village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire to trace his distant ancestry. Above: A family film showing Walt’s visit to St Peter’s Church, Norton Disney, with his wife and daughters in July 1949

Speaking from St Peter’s Church, which dates back to the 11th century, historian and Disney expert Sebastien Durand told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: ‘This is the oldest place in England where you can find a trace of Disney, of Walt Disney’s history and his family tree and even his coat of arms.’

He added that there is a ’99 per cent’ possibility that Disney’s name originates with from the French family memorialised in St Peter’s Church.  

Walt made his visit to Norton Disney with his wife Lillian and daughters Diane and Sharon on July 7, 1949. 

At the time, his firm was already hugely popular for films including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Fantasia, which starred the much-loved Mickey Mouse. 

Walt, who was aware that his great-grandfather was Irish, had heard that there was a village named after Disney and so wanted to explore further. 

His visit was filmed with a cine camera. The footage shows him with his family outside the church and speaking with the vicar at the time, Reverend RK Roper. 

They also pose by Norton Disney road signs and walk down the main road. 

Inside St Peter’s Church, Walt saw William d’Isney’s crest, which showed three lions facing left – the symbol of Normandy.

Walt found the family crest of his reputed ancestor Sir William d’Isney, on the 14th-century figure’s tomb in Norton Disney’s St Peter’s Church

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As a tribute to Walt’s discovery, those three lions have featured in the famous title sequence of every Disney film since 2006

The De Isgnys had come from France to England with William the Conqueror after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

According to the BBC, their name then changed over the centuries, first to d’Isgny and then to D’Iseny, before finally becoming Disney in around the 13th or 14th centuries.

In 1965, Walt wanted to add a coat of arms to Sleeping Beauty’s castle to mark the 10th anniversary of Disneyland. 

He was asked if there was a Disney crest and recalled how he saw it in Norton Disney.

Pictures of it were taken so it could be reproduced in California and at Disney’s other parks. 

A flag bearing the crest is seen fluttering at the top of Sleeping Beauty’s castle in the short clip

The crest also features at Disneyland theme parks around the world. Above: On Sleeping Beauty’s castle in California

St Peter’s Church dates back to the 11th century. Norton Disney itself has a population of just 242

Walt Disney is seen with his wife Lillian in the 1950s. The couple were married for more than 40 years

Walt Disney is seen with his wife Lillian and daughters Sharon and Diana

Norton Disney resident Hilda Kinnersley, now 94, was aged 20 when Walt visited with his family. 

Recalling his visit, she told the BBC how her brother brought the family into the local pub, the St Vincent Arms, which is now called the Green Man.

She said: ‘I thought who’s that he’s bringing in?’

‘And then I thought, he’s not a bad looking man. 

‘They all come in with his daughters. And they were chatty, and they played a game of darts, because we were already playing darts when Walt came in.’