Bayt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the Bayt name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived as the nickname ‘the bat’ or as a petname of Bartholomew. "We have also to take into account the byname of a Winchester monk: Ælfricus qui Bata cognominabatur (c. 1051 Old English Bynames). This has given rise to various conjectures, none wholly satisfactory." 1

Bardsley feels the name is "derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Bartholomew,' from the nickname Bate or Bat; v. Batson, Bate, and Batty, " 2 and Smith similarly agrees the name denotes "the son of Bate, a pet form of Bartholomew (son of Talmai, furrow); one of stout, heavy appearance." 3

Early Origins of the Bayt family

The surname Bayt was first found in Shropshire where William Bat was listed in 1170-1187. Herbert Bat was similarly listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1182. 1 Another early record was Gerrard Bat who was Lord Mayor of London in 1240.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Gilbert Batte, Rutland; Reginald le Bat, Essex; and Matilda Battes, Cambridgeshire 2 while in Somerset, Clarice Batte was recorded there 1 Edward III (during the reign of King Edward III.) 4

Early History of the Bayt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bayt research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1273, 1323, 1620, 1631, 1642, 1651, 1655 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Bayt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bayt Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Bayt were recorded, including Batt, Batte, Bat, Batts, Baat and others.

Early Notables of the Bayt family

Distinguished members of the family include Anthony Batt (d. 1651), a Benedictine monk who resided for some years in the English monastery of his order at Dieulwart, in Lorraine. 5 M. Batt was a bookseller in London, 1642. His name occurs on several political pamphlets such as the...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bayt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bayt family to Ireland

Some of the Bayt family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bayt family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Bayt family emigrate to North America: Anne and Christopher Batt who settled in Massachusetts in 1635; Dorothie Batt settled in 1638 with five children; Elizabeth Batt settled in Barbados in 1660.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print