Vite History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Vite

What does the name Vite mean?

Vite is a very old Scottish name that may even date back to the Dalriadan tribe of Scotland's western coast and Hebrides islands. It comes from the names Wattie and Watty, both of which are pet forms of the personal name Walter. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Bhaididh, which translates as son of Wattie or son of Watty.

Early Origins of the Vite family

The surname Vite was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Vite family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vite research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1620 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Vite History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vite Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. Vite has been spelled MacWatt, MacWattie, MacWatters, MacQuattie, MacVatt and many more.

Early Notables of the Vite family

More information is included under the topic Early Vite Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Vite family to Ireland

Some of the Vite family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vite migration to the United States +

Numerous Scottish settlers settled along the east coast of the colonies that would become the United States and Canada. Others traveled to the open country of the west. At the time of the American War of Independence, some remained in the United States, while those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The highland games and Clan societies that sprang up across North America in the 20th century have helped many Scots to recover parts of their lost traditions. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Vites to arrive in North America:

Vite Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Augustin De Vite, who arrived in America in 1827 1

Sources +

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)