Bothirst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Bothirst comes from the family having resided in the ancient manor named Bathurst, which was located near Battel Abbey in the county of Sussex.

Early Origins of the Bothirst family

The surname Bothirst was first found in Sussex, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The first record was in Bathurst, of that shire, not far from Battle Abbey which contains the records of the Battle of Hastings.

The church in the parish of Mixbury in Oxfordshire played an important role in the family's lineage. "The church has a Norman doorway with zigzag mouldings, leading into the south aisle; the nave and chancel are separated by a large Norman arch, and at the east end of the north aisle is the burial-place of the Bathurst family. Here are some remains of an ancient fortification, originally surrounded by a moat, and by the Normans called Beaumont." 1

Another branch of the family was found at Kirby Horton in Kent in early days. "Franks, the seat of the Bathurst family since the commencement of the reign of Elizabeth, is situated on the bank of the Darent, which flows through the village." 1 Monuments of the family can also be found in the church of Laverstock in Wiltshire.

Early History of the Bothirst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bothirst research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1607, 1620, 1659, 1684, 1704, 1712, 1772, 1775 and 1889 are included under the topic Early Bothirst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bothirst Spelling Variations

Bothirst 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. Spelling variants included: Bathurst, Bathirst, Bothurst, Bethurst, Bothirst, Bathurrst, Bathurste, Bathurstt, Baithurst, Beathurst, Baathurst, Bauthurst, Bathearst, Bathearste and many more.

Early Notables of the Bothirst family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bothirst Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bothirst family to Ireland

Some of the Bothirst 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.

Migration of the Bothirst family

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 Bothirsts to arrive on North American shores: Sir Francis Bathurst who settled in Georgia in 1734; with his wife, Frances, three daughters, and son Robert; Charles Bathurst settled in Pennsylvania in 1682.

The Bothirst 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: Tien ta foy
Motto Translation: Kepp thy faith.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.