Gaught History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Soon after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Gaught was recognized on the island as a name for a person with a fancied resemblance to the wild boar. The name derives fom the Old Norse word goltr, which means boar. The boar, a hairy tusked animal similar to a pig, was once quite populous in England, but now remains only on continental Europe. Hunting boar was a favorite sport during the Middle Ages, and the sport contributed to its extinction in the British Isles.

Early Origins of the Gaught family

The surname Gaught was first found in Perthshire where they held a family seat from very early times. Gall was the name given to strangers, as in the Lowland Galt, but the name probably came from France. Conjecturally they moved north to Scotland with King David of Scotland.

Early History of the Gaught family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gaught research. Another 229 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1334, 1367, 1397, 1399, 1450, 1469, 1499, 1513, 1525, 1533, 1547, 1613, 1640, 1737, 1779, 1839 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gaught History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gaught Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Gall, Gauld, Gault, Galt, Gaw, Gawe, Gauwe and others.

Early Notables of the Gaught family

More information is included under the topic Early Gaught Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gaught family to Ireland

Some of the Gaught family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 91 words (6 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 Gaught family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Gaught or a variant listed above: Christopher Gall who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1753; George Michael Gall with his three sons who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1764.

The Gaught Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Patentia Vincit
Motto Translation: Patience conquers.