Mitch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Mitch was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Mitch family lived in "Monfichet, or Montfiquet, in the arrondissement of Bayeaux, said to be so named from their Scandinavian ancestor. " 1 2

Early Origins of the Mitch family

The surname Mitch was first found in Essex at Stansted Mountfitchet, a village and civil parish in the union of Bishop-Stortford that dates back to the Domesday Book when it was listed as Stanesteda.

By c.1290, the village was known as Stansted Mounfichet from the Muntfichet (Montfitchet) family who resided there since the 12th century. 3

However, other records date back further revealing Robert Gernon Montfitchet holding lands there at the time of the Conquest that included a castle, of which there are still some remains. Another source claims the name is "descended from Robert Gernon, a great tenant in [the] Domesday [Book]. His son, according to Morant, took this name from the castle of Stanstead, county Essex, from the raised mount which he there constructed. " 2

"The castle of Montfichet long remained, as well as the Church of St. Catherine in the castle, a foundation of this family. About 1050 Robert, surnamed Guernon (moustache), Baron of Montfichet, witnessed a charter of Duke William (Gall. Christ. xi. Instr. 229). He had issue, 1, William de Montfichet, who d. s. p., when the barony devolved on William, the son of his brother; 2, Robert Guernon or Gernon, who held a great barony in Essex, &c., 1086. From his elder son William de Montfichet descended the Barons of that name, whose seats were at Stanstead Montfichet, Essex, and Montfichet Tower, London, of which city the Montfichets were hereditary standard-bearers or military chiefs in time of war. The younger branches retained the name of Gernon. Alured Gernon, brother of William de Montfichet, had estates in Essex and Middlesex 1130 (Rot. Pip.). Matthew, his son, 1135 witnessed a charter of William Montfichet (Mon. i. 803). Ralph, his son, 1165, held a fief from Montfichet in Essex, and was granted Bakewell, Derbyshire, by Richard I." 1

Early History of the Mitch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mitch research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1296, 1312, 1542, 1543, 1544, 1556 and 1557 are included under the topic Early Mitch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mitch Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Muschat, Muschet, Montfichett, Montfiquet and many more.

Early Notables of the Mitch family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Richard Mitch (fl. 1557), English lawyer, of an Essex family, educated at Cambridge (B...
Mitch was an active opponent at Cambridge of the growth of the reformed religion...

Mitch 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:

Mitch Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Sarah A. Mitch, (b.1862), aged 21, Cornish cook departing on 28th July 1883 aboard the ship "Doric" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th September 1883 4
Miss Mary J. Mitch, (b.1864), aged 19, Cornish general servant departing on 28th July 1883 aboard the ship "Doric" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th September 1883 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Mitch (post 1700) +

Lemuel Mitch, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1928 5
A. Mitch Vannoy, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 1916 6
Mitch Hupé (b. 1995), Canadian right-handed ten-pin bowler from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, two time world champion
Mitch Markovich (b. 1944), American percussionist and composer
Mitch Harbeson (b. 1963), American location manager from Atlanta, Georgia, known for his work on The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Basic (2003) and The Transporter (2002)
Mitch Stratten, English director, sculptor, composer and writer based in the United Kingdom
Mitch John Benn (b. 1970), English musician and comedian, known for his comedy rock songs performed on BBC radio
Mitch Finley (b. 1945), American author who writes on religious and Catholic subjects from La Grande, Oregon
Mitch Cornish (b. 1993), Australian professional rugby league footballer
Mitch McMichen, American percussionist, known for his work with Brad Paisley on his albums Who Needs Pictures and Part II

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Auckland 1872-80 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html