Turbot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Turbot

What does the name Turbot mean?

Turbot is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Turbot comes from the Norman given name Terbert.

Early Origins of the Turbot family

The surname Turbot was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat. The definition that the name was derived from the name of a fish can be discounted as Victorian historians whimsical nonsense. The family held a family seat in Yorkshire and was a noble name during the time of King Richard 1st (about 1190 A.D.) and all indications are that this was a Norman name which appeared in the Domesday Book, 1 a survey of England taken by Duke William of Normandy in the year 1086 A.D., after his conquest of England in 1066 A.D. and appears as Turbert, a person holding lands.

Early History of the Turbot family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Turbot research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the year 1710 is included under the topic Early Turbot History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Turbot Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Turbot are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Turbot include Turbutt, Turbott, Turbert, Turbett, Turbot and many more.

Early Notables of the Turbot family

Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Turbot Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Turbot migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Turbot, or a variant listed above:

Turbot Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nicholas and Peter Turbot, who settled in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1635

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)