Bothurst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Bothurst is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in the ancient manor named Bathurst, which was located near Battel Abbey in the county of Sussex.

Early Origins of the Bothurst family

The surname Bothurst 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 Bothurst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bothurst 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 Bothurst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bothurst Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Bothurst has been spelled many different ways, including Bathurst, Bathirst, Bothurst, Bethurst, Bothirst, Bathurrst, Bathurste, Bathurstt, Baithurst, Beathurst, Baathurst, Bauthurst, Bathearst, Bathearste and many more.

Early Notables of the Bothurst family

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

Migration of the Bothurst family to Ireland

Some of the Bothurst 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 Bothurst family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Bothursts to arrive in North America: 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 Bothurst 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.