Show ContentsHatten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hatten was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Hatten family lived in Hatton, Cheshire. Another derivation of the name suggests that it comes from the Germanic personal name Hatto, which is composed of the element hadu, which means strife or contention. [1] Although both are valid, time has confused the two definitions and historians now disagree on which is valid in any individual case.

Early Origins of the Hatten family

The surname Hatten was first found in Cheshire where this "noble family were descended from Sir Adam Hatton, of Hatton, county Cheshire, grandson of Wulfrid, brother of Nigel, who was lord of Halton in the same county, by gift of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, soon after the Conquest." [2]

Early History of the Hatten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hatten research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1540, 1546, 1555, 1583, 1591, 1605, 1621, 1622, 1624, 1625, 1628, 1629, 1632, 1640, 1658, 1670, 1674, 1682, 1701, 1706, 1783 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Hatten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hatten Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Hatten has been recorded under many different variations, including Hatton, Hattons, Hattyn, Hattins, Hattans and others.

Early Notables of the Hatten family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Christopher Hatton KG (1540-1591), an English politician, Lord Chancellor of England and a favourite of Elizabeth I of England. "He was the second son of William Hatton of Holdenby, Northamptonshire, who died in 1546. The family was old, and claimed, though on doubtful evidence, to be of Norman lineage. Hatton was entered at St. Mary Hall, Oxford, probably about 1555, as a gentleman-commoner." [3]Sir Thomas Hatton, 1st Baronet (c.1583-1658), was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Corfe...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hatten Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hatten Ranking

In the United States, the name Hatten is the 6,317th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [4]

Ireland Migration of the Hatten family to Ireland

Some of the Hatten family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hatten migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Hattens were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Hatten Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Hatten, who landed in America in 1654-1679 [5]
Hatten Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Hatten, aged 11, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1851 [5]
  • Sarah Jane Hatten, aged 40, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1851 [5]
  • Michael Hatten, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1853 [5]
  • Joseph Von Hatten, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1860 [5]

Australia Hatten migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hatten Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Hatten, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Childe Harold" in 1849 [6]
  • Henry Hatten, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Reliance" [7]

New Zealand Hatten migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hatten Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Hatten, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1874
  • Charlotte Hatten, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wanganui" in 1882
  • Arthur Hatten, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wanganui" in 1882

Contemporary Notables of the name Hatten (post 1700) +

  • Tom Hatten (1926-2019), American radio, film and television personality, known as the long-time host of The Popeye Show
  • Marcus Hatten (b. 1980), American basketball player
  • Joseph Hilarian Hatten (1916-1988), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1946 to 1952, Brooklyn Dodgers Opening Day Starting pitcher (1947 and 1949)
  • Jennifer Hatten, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 2008 [8]
  • Clifford D. Hatten (b. 1912), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Wayne County, 1941-42 [8]
  • Carl F. Hatten, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Supervisor of Farmington Township, Michigan, 1904 [8]
  • Alvin D. Hatten, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 1956, 1960 [8]
  • Jerry Hatten Buss, American real estate executive in California, majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame
  • Hatten Yoder (1921-2003), American geophysicist and experimental petrologist, recipient of the Wollaston Medal in 1979


The Hatten 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: Nil conscire sibi
Motto Translation: To have a conscience free from guilt.


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHILDE HAROLD 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849ChildeHarold.htm
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RELIANCE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Reliance.htm
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 5) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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