Show ContentsAnnette History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A family in the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland was the first to use the name Annette. They lived in the lands of Arnott in the parish of Portmoak in Kinross (now part of the region of Tayside), where one of the first times the name was listed was in 1150 when Michael de Arnoth was mentioned.

Early Origins of the Annette family

The surname Annette was first found in the lands of Arnott in the parish of Portmoak, Kinross-shire. The first chief, recorded, Michael Arnott, held those lands about 1150. David, of Fifeshire, his successor was recorded in 1296 when he paid homage to King Edward 1st of England.

Early History of the Annette family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Annette research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1400, 1497, 1498, 1502, 1536, 1600, 1608, 1639, 1652, 1680, 1693, 1743, 1744, 1769, 1890 and 1918 are included under the topic Early Annette History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Annette Spelling Variations

In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Annette has been spelled Arnott, Arnot, Arnatt, Arnocht, Arnote, Arnett, Anetts, Arnette, Ernot, Ernott, Annett, Annetts and many more.

Early Notables of the Annette family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was David Arnot, C.R.S.A., (fl. 1497- c. 1536), Scottish canon regular and bishop from Arnot, Fife, Rector of Kirkforthar, Fife in 1497, Archdeacon of Lothian in 1498; Sir Michael Arnot, 1st Baronet (d. c. 1680) of Arnot in the County of Fife; and his son, Charles Arnot (d. before 1652) represented Kinross in the Scottish Parliament. Further to the south in England, Peter Annet (1693-1769)...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Annette Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Annette family to Ireland

Some of the Annette family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Annette family

In such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through Clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of Annette: David Arnott, aged 20, who settled in Virginia in 1716; John Arnott, who settled in Virginia in 1795; as well as Agnes, George, Jane, Samuel and William Arnot of one family, who settled in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1767. In Newfoundland, James Arnott settled in St. John's in 1812.


Contemporary Notables of the name Annette (post 1700) +

  • Albert Annette, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 14th District, 1901-02 1
  • Shanna Annette Crossley (b. 1983), American professional basketball player
  • Catherine Annette Hanshaw (1901-1985), American jazz singer
  • Peggy Annette Whitson PH.D. (b. 1960), American biochemistry researcher, NASA Astronaut with over a year in space 2
  • Sandra Annette Bullock (b. 1964), American Golden Globe Award and Academy Award winning film actress
  • Annette Poulsen (b. 1969), retired Danish swimmer
  • Annette McCarthy (1958-2023), American actress best known for her role as Evelyn Marsh in the second season of Twin Peaks, and as Dr. Wendy Oliver in the cult movie Creature (1985)
  • Annette Turen, American actress, known for The Bikini Carwash Company II (1993)
  • Annette Lillianne Marie Dionne (b. 1934), birth name of Annette Lillianne Marie Allard, one of the Canadian quintuplets known to have survived their infancy
  • Annette Jahns (1958-2020), German operatic mezzo-soprano and contralto, and opera director, based at the Semperoper in Dresden


The Annette 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: Speratum et completum
Motto Translation: Hoped for and Fulfilled.


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  2. NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Peggy Whitson. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/whitson.html


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