First found in Dorset where they held a family seat from very ancient times and were Lords of the Manor of Stock Gaylard in that shire. Conjecturally, this family name is descended from William d'Eu who held the manor at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086 A.D. Count William d'Eu's main holdings were in Wiltshire but it may well be that a junior line of the family became husbandmen to his Dorset holdings.

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Oatman or a variant listed above: Robert Yateman settled in Nevis in 1654; William Yateman settled in St. Christopher in 1635; William Yateman settled in Virginia in 1651; Albert and William Yeatman arrived in Pennsylvania in 1868. In Newfoundland Thomas Yeatman settled in Conception Bay in 1750.

Motto Translated: Tenacious of my resolve.

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