Show ContentsHoath History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Hoath family arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Hoath came from on a heath, or perhaps in Hoath, in Kent. [1] The place-name and the surname are derived from the Old English word hoth (with a long o), which means heath. The surname means "dweller at the heath," while the place-name means "place at the heath." Hoath was recorded as La Hathe at some point in the 13th century. [2]

Early Origins of the Hoath family

The surname Hoath was first found in Sussex. "A hoad in the South means a heathy or rough ground. In Sussex many names of places which comprise the syllable hoth or heath have had it corrupted by the peasantry to hoad, and thus Hothly and Roeheath become Hoadly and Roehoad. " [3]

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time: John del Hoth was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275 in Norfolk; and Simon atte Hothe was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296 and also in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1317. [2]

Early History of the Hoath family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoath research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1643, 1655, 1659, 1662, 1676, 1705, 1706, 1757 and 1761 are included under the topic Early Hoath History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoath Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Hoad, Hoath, O'Hode, Oade, Oades, Oadt, Odo and others.

Early Notables of the Hoath family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Samuel Hoadly (1643-1705), schoolmaster and writer of educational books, was born 30 Sept. 1643 at Guildford, New England, whither his parents had fled at the outbreak of the great rebellion. In 1655 his parents returned to Great Britain and settled in Edinburgh, where Samuel was educated, matriculating in...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hoath Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Hoath family to Ireland

Some of the Hoath family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hoath migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hoath or a variant listed above:

Hoath Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Samuel Hoath, aged 65, who immigrated to the United States from Manchester, in 1904
  • Henry Hoath, aged 25, who settled in America from London, England, in 1908
  • Henry William Hoath, aged 26, who immigrated to New York, U.S.A., in 1909

Australia Hoath migration to Australia +

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

Hoath Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William John Hoath, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1860 aboard the ship "Schah Jehan"

Contemporary Notables of the name Hoath (post 1700) +

  • Florence Angela L. Hoath (b. 1984), British actress, best known for her appearances as Nancy in Doctor Who (2005)


The Hoath 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: Veritas et patria
Motto Translation: Truth and faith.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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