Saltis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Saltis is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a person who worked at a saltworks. Such structures where salt was purified were known as salthouses. 1 2

Early Origins of the Saltis family

The surname Saltis was first found in Norfolk at Salthouse, a parish, in the union of Erpingham, hundred of Holt. "The church is a handsome structure in the later English style, with a lofty square embattled tower, formerly surmounted by a spire; the foundation of a second church may still be traced in the burial-ground." 3

The Domesday Book of 1086 lists this place as Saltus 4 and literally the place name meant "building for storing salt," from the Old English "salt" + "hus." 5

Shortly after the Conquest, Salthouse was occupied by William d'Ecouis who held it from Earl William de Warren. 4

Two sources note that the first on record was Adam de Salthus who held lands here according to the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 6 1

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Simon del Southouse, souter. 6

"Salthouse is a name now mostly confined to Lancashire. De Salthus was a Norfolk name in the 13th century; there is a parish of Salthouse in that county, and De Salthouse was a common clerical name in that county in the 14th century (Blomefield's "Norfolk"). Salthouse is a Norfolk parish." 2

Two other sources agree: "two small places, a Salthouse in Lytham, and a Salthouse in Furness, where salt was obtained from sea-water, have originated two families of Salthouse in North Lancashire." 6 1

The Lancashire Wills at Richmond includes: Janet Saltehowse, of Pulton. 1562; Agnes Saltus, of Ulverston, 1596; John Salthouse, of Saltcoathouses, 1661; and William Saltus, of Banke, 1662.

Early History of the Saltis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saltis research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1630, 1652, 1657, 1665, 1681 and 1691 are included under the topic Early Saltis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saltis Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Saltis were recorded, including Salthouse, Saltehouse, Salthose and others.

Early Notables of the Saltis family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Salthouse (1630-1691), English Quaker, born in Lancashire in 1630, probably at Dragley Beck, an outlying district in Ulverston parish, about half a mile from Swarthmoor Hall. After a scanty education, Salthouse was employed as land steward by Judge Thomas Fell at Swarthmoor Hall and was converted to Quakerism, with the other inmates of the house, on George Fox's first visit there in 1652. in 1657, he was sent to Ilchester gaol, brought...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Saltis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Saltis family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Saltis arrived in North America very early: Thomas Salthouse who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1683; another Thomas Salthouse settled in Barbados in 1685; William Salthouse settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1838..

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)