Show ContentsEthcarte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Ethcarte first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in Bedfordshire. Their name, however, translates as the dweller at the eastern cottage, and indicates that the original bearer lived in such a place. 1

Early Origins of the Ethcarte family

The surname Ethcarte was first found in Bedfordshire, where Gundwinus de Estcota was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1190. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Richard de Estcott, Wiltshire; and Hugh de Estcote, Cambridgeshire. 3

Later the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex listed Robert atte Estcote in 1327. 2

Eastcourt is a hamlet, in the parish of Crudwell, union and hundred of Malmesbury, Malmesbury and Kingswood divisions of Wiltshire 4 and there are at least three villages name Eastcott (Wiltshire (2), Middlesex.) The oldest was Eastcourt, Wiltshire which dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Escote. Eastcott, Wiltshire dates back to 1167 and it was known as Estcota at that time. 5

Early History of the Ethcarte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ethcarte research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1570, 1571, 1572, 1584, 1586, 1587, 1601, 1607, 1624, 1628, 1629, 1668, 1676, 1684, 1712, 1793 and 1828 are included under the topic Early Ethcarte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ethcarte Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Ethcarte has appeared include Estcourt, Estcott, Estcotte, Eastcourt, Escott and many more.

Early Notables of the Ethcarte family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Thomas Estcourt (c. 1570-1624), an English lawyer and politician, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1607, Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1624; Sir Edward Estcourt of Salisbury; Richard Estcourt (1668-1712), an early English actor, active playing comedy parts in Dublin; and Sir Giles Estcourt, 1st Baronet (c. 1601-1668), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629, supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. He was from Newton in the County of Wiltshire and his descendants include: Sir Giles Estcourt, 2nd Baronet (died c. 1676); and...
Another 142 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ethcarte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ethcarte family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Ethcarte arrived in North America very early: Thomas Escott who settled in Virginia in 1680.



  1. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook