Show ContentsAbbitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Abbitt, comes from the Old English word "abbod," which in turn comes from a Latin and a Greek root, and means "priest." The celibacy of the clergy makes it unlikely that this name is actually an occupational name for a priest, but rather was likely a name first used by someone who employed by the church, or someone thought to resemble an abbot in some way.

Early Origins of the Abbitt family

The surname Abbitt was first found in the counties of Oxfordshire, Huntingdon, Bedfordshire and Cambridge from very ancient times, before the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Abbitt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Abbitt research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1306, 1577, 1611 and 1912 are included under the topic Early Abbitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Abbitt Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Abbott, Abbot, Abbotts, Abbett, Abbet, Abott and others.

Early Notables of the Abbitt family

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

Ireland Migration of the Abbitt family to Ireland

Some of the Abbitt 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 Abbitt migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Abbitt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Elizabeth Abbitt, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 1
  • Robert Abbitt, who landed in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1634 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Abbitt (post 1700) +

  • Watkins Moorman Abbitt Jr. (b. 1944), American politician, Member of Virginia State House of Delegates 59th District, 1986- 2
  • Watkins Moorman Abbitt (1908-1998), American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for Virginia, 1944; Delegate to Virginia state Constitutional Convention, 1945; U.S. Representative from Virginia 4th District, 1948-73; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1964, 1972 2


The Abbitt 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. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, September 30) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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