Gattant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Gattant arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a watchman. The watchman was responsible for keeping guard over the gates of a castle or manor. However, another source claims the name was for "one who came from Gatton (enclosure where goats were kept), in Surrey." 1

Early Origins of the Gattant family

The surname Gattant was first found in Kent where they were granted extensive estates in that shire. Some of the first on record for this name include: Hemfrid de Gatton (born: 1094, died: unknown), Hamo de Gatton (1125-1165), Robert de Gatton (1147-1190) and Hamo de Gatton (1170-1216). Hamon de Gatton was granted lands in Throwly in Kent about the 12th century.

Much of the family remained in the Kent area as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Hamo de Gattane as holding lands there at that time. 2

Not all remained in Kent as Thomas de Gatton was listed in Suffolk in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1219 and Mabilia de Gatton was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire in the same year. 3

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum which was recorded temp. Henry III-Edward I, listed Robert de Gatton in Sussex and John de Gatton in Nottinghamshire. 4 The scattered migration continued as by 1379, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls listed Alicia de Gatton as a landholder. 2

Gatton is a parish, formerly a borough, in the union, and Second division of the hundred of Reigate, E. division of Surrey. "This was once a considerable town, and had a castle. It sent two members to parliament from the 29th of Henry VI. to the second of William IV., when it was disfranchised; the right of election was vested in the freeholders and inhabitants paying scot and lot, and the constable for the manor was returning officer." 5 Other sources note that Robert de Gatton, took his name from the lordship of Gatton temp. Henry III.

Early History of the Gattant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gattant research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1501 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Gattant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gattant Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Gatton, Gatens, Gattan, Gattyn, Gattynd and others.

Early Notables of the Gattant family

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

Migration of the Gattant family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Gattant or a variant listed above: George Gaton settled in Virginia in 1638; Thomas Gatens arrived in Philadelphia in 1840; Patrick Gatans arrived in Philadelphia in 1858; William Gattens settled in Maryland in 1774..

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. 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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.