Jarratt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Jarratt family migrated to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname Jarratt is based on the given name Gerard. 1

Early Origins of the Jarratt family

The surname Jarratt was first found in Shropshire where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Jarratt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jarratt research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1086 is included under the topic Early Jarratt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jarratt Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Jarratt include Jarret, Jarratt, Jarrett, Jarrott and others.

Early Notables of the Jarratt family

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

Jarratt migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Jarratts to arrive on North American shores:

Jarratt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Jarratt, who settled in Virginia in 1606
Samuel Jarratt who settled in Virginia in 1626
John Jarratt, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1640 2

Jarratt migration to Australia +

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

Jarratt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Jarratt, English convict from Oxford, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Jarratt (post 1700) +

George Jarratt (1891-1917), English recipient of the Victoria Cross for deeds on May 3, 1917 during the First World War
Wayne Jarratt (1957-1988), Australian stage and television actor of the 1980s
Steve Jarratt, video game journalist and magazine editor
John Jarratt (b. 1951), Australian actor currently garnering accolades for his portrayal of Mick Taylor in Wolf Creek
Alex Jarratt (b. 1924), British businessman and former senior civil servant
Robert Jarratt Crosthwaite DD (1837-1925), English clergyman, the inaugural Bishop of Beverley

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832