Attworthey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Attworthey family

The surname Attworthey was first found in Wiltshire at Atworth, a tything and chapelry, in the parish of Great Bradford, union and hundred of Bradford that dates back to 1001 when it was listed as Attenwrthe. The place name literally means "enclosure or a man called Atta," from the Old English personal name + "worth." 1 An ancient Roman villa was located here and is one of six within approximately a three-mile radius. As far as the surname is concerned, the first records were found on the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Geoffery de Attewurth and William de Attewurthe were both listed in Wiltshire. 2

Early History of the Attworthey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Attworthey research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Attworthey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Attworthey Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Attworthey include Atworth, Attworth, Attworthy, Atworthe, Atworthy, Atworthy, Atteworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Attworthey family

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

Migration of the Attworthey family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Attworthey were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: H. G. Atworthy, aged 27, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1921.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)