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Hoyt History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Hoyt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Hoyt is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the village of Ayott in the county of Hertfordshire. The surname Hoyt can be translated as at the high-gate, a gate that led into a protected enclosure. 1 2

However, two other sources claims the name was "derived from a geographical locality. 'Of High-gate,' corrupted to Hy-yate, and finally Hyett. Probably Highgate in London is referred to as the instances are mostly found in that locality." 3 4

Early Origins of the Hoyt family

The surname Hoyt was first found in Hertfordshire at Ayot(t), of which there are two villages: Ayot(t) St. Lawrence, a parish, in the union of Welwyn, hundred of Broadwater; and Ayot(t) St. Peter, a parish, in the union of Welwyn, hundred of Broadwater. The Ayot(t) St. Lawrence "parish during the heptarchy, formed part of the possessions of the last of the Saxon monarchs; and a spot in the immediate vicinity, still called Dane End, commemorates a signal defeat of the Danes by King Ethelwulph." 5 Collectively the place names were listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Aiete. 6

The first record of the family was actually found in Somerset, where John atte Hagheyate was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 7

From this entry we found James Hyet listed in London in 1514, John Hyett in Worcester in 1539, and William Hiatt in Leicestershire in 1599. 4

Early History of the Hoyt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoyt research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1583, 1601, 1608, 1618, 1628, 1641, 1651, 1658, 1677, 1681, 1698, 1722, 1727, 1730, 1738, 1859 and 1943 are included under the topic Early Hoyt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoyt Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Hoyt has been spelled many different ways, including Hyatt, Huyet, Hyett, Hyat, Hyet, Hytte and others.

Early Notables of the Hoyt family

Distinguished members of the family include

Walter Hoyt (Haite, Hayte, Hoit, Haight) (1618-1698) from West Hatch, Somerset, he emigrated to America in 1628 and became a founding settler of Norwalk, Connecticut and later served in the General Co...

Hoyt Ranking

In the United States, the name Hoyt is the 1,558^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 8

Hoyt migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Hoyts to arrive in North America:

Hoyt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Hoyt, who landed in America in 1620 9
Simon Hoyt, who landed in Salem aboard the ship "Lyon's Whelp", bound for Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1628 9
John Hoyt, who arrived in Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1639 9

Hoyt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Catharine Hoyt, who arrived in New York in 1835 9
Cornelius Hoyt, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 9

Hoyt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hoyt Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Israel Hoyt U.E. born in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA who settled in Kingston, Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1784 10
Mr. James Hoyt U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 10
Mr. James Hoyt U.E. born in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1804 in Newfield, Connecticut, USA 10
Mr. Jesse Hoyt U.E. who settled in Sissiboo, Nova Scotia c. 1784 listed on Muster Roll at Gulliver's Hole, St. Mary's Bay and Sissiboo 10
Mr. Joseph Hoyt U.E. born in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he returned to the USA in 1800 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hoyt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Hoyt, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland

Contemporary Notables of the name Hoyt (post 1700) +

Dewey LaMarr Hoyt Jr. (1955-2021), American Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres from 1979 to 1986, winner of the 1983 American League Cy Young Award
Dick Hoyt (1940-2021), American marathon runner and Ironman, inducted to the Ironman Hall of Fame, member of Team Hoyt
William Welles Hoyt (1875-1954), American one time Olympic gold medalist for athletics during the 1896 games
Brigadier-General Ross Gordon Hoyt (1893-1983), American Commanding General of the 65th Fighter Wing, Saffron Walden, England (1943) 11
Clegg Hoyt (1910-1967), American actor
Charles Hale Hoyt (1859-1900), American dramatist
John Wesley Hoyt (1831-1912), American politician and educator
Chase Henry Hoyt (b. 1980), American film, television, and stage actor
Francis Southack Hoyt (1822-1912), American educator
Albert Harrison Hoyt (1826-1915), American editor and author
... (Another 103 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hoyt family +

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Jane Anne Hoyt, (née Forby), aged 31, American First Class passenger from New York City, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat D 12
Mr. Frederick Maxfield Hoyt, aged 35, American First Class passenger from New York City, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat D 12
Mr. William Fisher Hoyt, aged 42, American First Class passenger from New York City, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 14, he later died in the night and his body was buried at sea. 14 12

The Hoyt 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: Fac et spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. 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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Ross Hoyt. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hoyt/Ross_Gordon/USA.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html