Athy History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe distinguished surname Athy is Ango-Saxon in origin. It is derived from the Old English "gehaeg", meaning "dweller at the enclosure" and was most likely originally borne by someone living within an enclosure. [1] Most sources agree on this origin, but one differs: "This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Adam,' from the colloquial Addy. This was sharpened into Atty." [2] Early Origins of the Athy familyThe surname Athy was first found in Cambridgeshire, where Lecia Ateheye was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. [1] While this is the first entry in early rolls, another source notes that Gerard de Atie, and Engelard, his nephew, were chief supporters of King John who reigned between from 1199 to 1216. [3] Early History of the Athy familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Athy research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1379, 1388 and 1568 are included under the topic Early Athy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Athy Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Athy include Athy, Athey, Atha, Atty, Attey and others. Early Notables of the Athy familyNotables of the family at this time include
Migration of the Athy family to IrelandSome of the Athy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled 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 ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Athy or a variant listed above: Athy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Athy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
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: Duci et non trahi Motto Translation: To be led and not dragged.
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