De littleton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The De littleton name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in one of the many places called Littleton throughout England. The surname De littleton belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Alternatively, the name could have of Norman origin as one source claims the name "appears to be a branch of the De Vautort, or Valletort, from Vautort, Maine, of which Reginald, Hugh, and Goisfried de Valletort came to England in 1066." 1

Early Origins of the De littleton family

The surname De littleton was first found in Worcestershire where "the name is derived from a place in the Vale of Evesham, where the ancestors of this family in the female line were seated before the reign of Richard I." 2

"The celebrated jurist, Sir Thomas Lyttelton, who had three sons, whose posterity were elevate to the peerage in each line, sprang maternally from Thomas de Luttelton, of co. Worcester, temp. Henry III. The surname probably originated at one of the several places called Littleton, in that county." 3

Sir Edward Littleton (c.1599- c.1657) was the first of four Littleton Baronets. His seat was Pillaton Hall in Staffordshire. He also held a manor in Tiddesley-Hay. "This was a royal chase, adjoining that of Cannock, till the reign of Elizabeth, who granted it jointly to the Earls of Warwick and Leicester, by whom it was sold to Sir Edward Littleton, of Pillaton Hall." 4

Humphrey and Stephen Littleton, (or Lyttelton) who both died on 7 April 1606 were probably the most infamous members of the family. Both were both executed for their involvement in the Gunpowder plot.

Early History of the De littleton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our De littleton research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1130, 1407, 1415, 1481, 1561, 1570, 1571, 1584, 1589, 1593, 1599, 1601, 1608, 1615, 1620, 1621, 1624, 1626, 1640, 1644, 1645, 1647, 1650, 1660, 1661, 1670, 1678, 1679, 1681, 1693, 1698, 1700 and 1709 are included under the topic Early De littleton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

De littleton Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name De littleton has undergone many spelling variations, including Littleton, Lyttleton and others.

Early Notables of the De littleton family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir Thomas de Littleton (1407-1481), an English judge and legal author

Migration of the De littleton family to Ireland

Some of the De littleton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the De littleton family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name De littleton were among those contributors: George Littleton, who settled in Virginia in 1649; Edward Littleton settled in Barbados with his servants in 1679; Joseph Littleton settled in Virginia in 1765..

The De littleton 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: Ung Dieu et ung roy
Motto Translation: One God and one King.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.