Byrtt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Byrtt is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Byrtt comes from the Norman personal name and was originally spelled Berte. That name is derived from the word berht, which means light. Hence the name could have been a nickname for someone who was "bright, clear or splendid" having derived from the Anglo Saxon word "beorht." 1

Early Origins of the Byrtt family

The surname Byrtt was first found in Norfolk where Thomas de Burt and Hamo Burt were first listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls also listed Ralph Burte in Leicestershire and Roger Burt in Oxfordshire. 2

Early History of the Byrtt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Byrtt research. Another 169 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1066 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Byrtt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Byrtt Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Burt, Burte, Birt, Burts, Berte, Burte, Birte and many more.

Early Notables of the Byrtt family

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

Migration of the Byrtt family to Ireland

Some of the Byrtt 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 Byrtt family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Byrtt or a variant listed above: John Birt who settled in Barbados in 1683; Edward, George, John, and Patrick Birt settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1850; William Birt settled in San Francisco, Cal. in 1852.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)