Show ContentsAbbett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestry of the name Abbett can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a name for a superior of a monastery, an Abbot. The name Abbett may also be a nickname applied to someone who played the part of an abbot in a medieval pageant, or to a person thought to be particularly pious and devout. 1

Early Origins of the Abbett family

The surname Abbett was first found in the counties of Oxfordshire, Huntingdon, Bedfordshire and Cambridge from very ancient times. The family was in this area before the Norman Conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy in 1066 AD.

Alfwoldus Abbas (1111-1117) is one such example of a man who was a holder of the monasterial office of Abbot. It is also assumed that the name may have been a source of several more surnames at a later date. Walter Abbott was recorded in the year 1200, in the City of London. 1

Walter Abat was recorded in The Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219. Peter le Abbot (the Abbot) of Essex is documented in the records of the Hornchurch priory, and is also mention of Ralph Abbod in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1272. 2

The Abbotson and Abotson variants date back to 1200 when Walter Abbottson was recorded in London at that time. 2

Early History of the Abbett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Abbett research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1306, 1379, 1560, 1562, 1565, 1577, 1588, 1603, 1612, 1617, 1623, 1633, 1642, 1648, 1662, 1720 and 1912 are included under the topic Early Abbett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Abbett Spelling Variations

Abbett has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Abbett have been found, including Abbott, Abbot, Abbotts, Abbett, Abbet, Abott and others.

Early Notables of the Abbett family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Maurice or Morris Abbot (1565-1642), was an eminent merchant, Governor of the East India Company, and Lord Mayor of London, the fifth and youngest son of Maurice Abbot, a clothworker of Guildford. George Abbot (1562-1633), Archbishop of Canterbury, the fourth Chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin, between 1612 and 1633. He was one of the translators of the Bible. "His father, Maurice Abbot, was a clothworker of the town. Abbot's parents were staunch Protestants; they had first 'embraced the truth of the Gospel in King Edward's days, and were persecuted for it in...
Another 142 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Abbett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Abbett family to Ireland

Some of the Abbett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Abbett migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Abbetts to arrive on North American shores:

Abbett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Abbett, who landed in Maryland in 1649 3
  • Elizabeth Abbett, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 3
  • Jane Abbett, who landed in Maryland in 1665 3
  • Samuel Abbett Jr., who landed in Maryland in 1665 3
  • Samuel Abbett Sr., who arrived in Maryland in 1665 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Abbett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Abbett, who arrived in Indiana in 1854 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Abbett (post 1700) +

  • Leon Abbett (1835-1894), American Democratic Party politician, and lawyer, 26th Governor of New Jersey (1884-1887), co-founder of Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC is an independent, privately held U.S. investment management firm in 1929
  • Robert Kennedy "Bob" Abbett (b. 1926), American artist and illustrator for Ballantine Books, Pyramid Books and Ace Books
  • Leon Abbett (1867-1928), American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hudson County, 1899-1901 4
  • Leon Abbett (1836-1894), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hudson County, 1865-66, 1869-70; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1872, 1876 (delegation chair), 1884, 1888 4
  • Edwin L. Abbett, American Democratic Party politician, County Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 6th District, 1890 4


The Abbett Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Deo patria amicis
Motto Translation: A friend to God and my country.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. 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)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, September 30) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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