Gaitens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

The Celtic name of Gaitens was derived from the rugged landscape of Wales. This old, proud name is from the Welsh personal name Gethin. According to some experts, this forename is derived from the word "cethin," which means "dusky" or "dark."

Early Origins of the Gaitens family

The surname Gaitens was first found in Cheshire, where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor near Malpas. The main stem of the family is said to be descended from David Goch, a Welsh chieftain, Lord of Penmachno of Fedwdeg. One of the oldest records of the name was Rhys Gethin (died 1405), Welsh standard bearer and a leading general in the revolt of Owain Glyndwr in which he led an army which captured several castles in South Wales; and later Ieuan Gethin ap Ieuan ap Lleision (fl. c. 1450) was a Welsh language poet and gentleman from Baglan, Glamorgan. A large number of his own poems remain in existence today.

Early History of the Gaitens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gaitens research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1402, 1405, 1585, 1615, 1652, 1674, 1676, 1685, 1697, 1698, 1709, 1725, 1765 and 1778 are included under the topic Early Gaitens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gaitens Spelling Variations

Although there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Gaitens have included Gethin, Gethyn, Gethyns, Gethyng, Gethings, Gething, Gethinge, Getting, Gettings, Gittings, Gittens, Gittins, Gidding, Giddings, Gettins, Giddens, Giddins, Gidden, Giddens, Gettens, Gitting and many more.

Early Notables of the Gaitens family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Rhys Gethin (died 1405), key figure in the revolt of Owain Glyndwr, standard bearer and a leading general, took part in the crucial Welsh victory at the Battle of Bryn Glas (1402), led an army which captured several castles in South Wales, killed at either the Battle of Pwll Melyn or the Battle of Grosmont in 1405.Lady Grace Gethin (1676-1697), was...
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gaitens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gaitens family to Ireland

Some of the Gaitens family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 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 Gaitens family

Many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, searching for land, work, and freedom. Like the many other immigrants from the British Isles, they made a significant contribution to the development of Canada and the United States. The Welsh and their descendents added a rich cultural tradition to the newly developed towns, cities, and villages. An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Gaitens: James, George, and Jane Giddins settled in Boston in 1635; John Giddin(g)s settled in Ipswich in 1653; Edward Giddons settled in Philadelphia in 1773. Adam, James and John Gittens arrived in New York in 1854..