Gatty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The Scottish name Gatty is thought to be a habitational name, taken on from a place name in the county of Nairn. The place name Geddes is thought to have come from a Gaelic term for a mountain ridge. It has also been suggested that the surname was a patronymic created from the personal name Geddie, of uncertain origin, but which may come from a Scots dialect word "gedd," meaning "pike."

Early Origins of the Gatty family

The surname Gatty was first found in Nairnshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Narann) in northern Scotland, today part of the Council Area of Highland where they held the lands of Geddes, formerly held by the Rose family. Further south the Gedding variant were first found in the parish of Gedding in Suffolk. "This place, which comprises about 580 acres, was the property of Sir John Gedding, who resided in the manorhouse of Gedding Hall, and died about the 21st of the reign of Edward I." 1

Early History of the Gatty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gatty research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1394, 1406, 1470, 1558, 1590, 1597, 1600, 1650, 1660, 1694, 1713, 1737, 1739, 1799, 1802 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gatty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gatty Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Geddes, Geddas, Geddis, Gedes, Geddeis, Geddy and many more.

Early Notables of the Gatty family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was John Gedy , the Abbot of Arbroath in 1394, said to have been influential in creating the harbour there. According to Edinburgh tradition, Jenny Geddes (c.1600-c. 1660), a Scottish market-trader is said to have thrown a stool at the head of the minister in St Giles' Cathedral in objection to the first use of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in Scotland. The act is supposed to...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gatty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gatty family to Ireland

Some of the Gatty family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 111 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gatty migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gatty Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Gatty, a tailor, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832

Contemporary Notables of the name Gatty (post 1700) +

Sir Stephen Herbert Gatty (1850-1922), Chief Justice of Gibraltar from 16 January 1895 to 1905
Oliver Gatty (1907-1940), British chemist and psychical researcher from Kensington, Middlesex
Alfred Gatty (1813-1903), Church of England vicar and author from London
Nicholas Comyn Gatty (1874-1946), English composer and music critic, a close friend of Ralph Vaughan Williams
Charles Tindal Gatty (1851-1928), British antiquary, musician, author, and lecturer
Charles Henry Gatty (1836-1903), British zoologist, meteorologist, landowner and philanthropist
Katharine Gatty (1870-1952), British nurse, journalist, lecturer and militant suffragette, member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), recipient of the Hunger Strike Medal
Harold Charles Gatty (1903-1957), Australian navigator and aviation pioneer from Campbell Town, Tasmania; Charles Lindbergh called Gatty the "Prince of Navigators"
Margaret Gatty (1809-1873), English author of ‘Aunt Judy's Tales,’ youngest daughter and coheiress of the Rev. Alexander John Scott, D.D 2
Sarah Gatty Saunt (b. 1977), professional waterskier born in Surrey

The Gatty 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: Capta majora
Motto Translation: Seek greater things.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020