Lidbitter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The name Lidbitter is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a worker in lead. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English words lead and beatere, meaning literally "he who beats lead." 1

"In old times, before the process of rolling that metal into sheets by machinery was employed, it was laminated by the laborious manual operation of hammering; and as most churches and other large buildings were roofed with this material, the occupation of the lead-beater was a very common and necessary one." 2

Metallurgy was not an advanced art in the Middle Ages; the metal in modern cutlery is far harder and has more resiliency than that in the best sword in medieval times. It was a common sight during a battle in the early Middle Ages to see a soldier hit someone with a sword, then put it on the ground and step on it to straighten out the bend it had just acquired. Lead was a popular metal to work with thanks to its malleability, making it easy to work. Of course, its toxic properties were not known; in fact, its sweet taste led to its use in antiquity as a condiment in some places, though usually not for long. Lead was commonly found in jewelry as a metal mixed with gold, and in pewter, an amalgam of lead and tin, used for drinking cups and cutlery. This made the occupation of leadbeater an important one in the Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Lidbitter family

The surname Lidbitter was first found in Warwickshire where Ingald Ledbater was recorded in the Assize Rolls for 1221. A few years later, Walter Ledbeter, le Ledbetere was listed in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1256. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included an entry for Gonnilda le Ledbetere, Buckinghamshire and later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Ricardus Ledebatter; and Robertus Ledebeter. 4

As an occupational name, we should not be surprised to find the name as far north as Scotland. "Walter Ledbeter of Heydon was before an assize at Newcastle-on-Tyne on suspicion of robbery in Scotland in 1256. Thomas Ledbeter was custumar and provost of Linlithgow in 1328 and following years. Alexander Leadbetter, merchant in Kelso, 1831." 5

Early History of the Lidbitter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lidbitter research. Another 170 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1221, 1250, 1328, 1561, 1562, 1669, 1702 and 1788 are included under the topic Early Lidbitter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lidbitter Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Lidbitter include Leadbetter, Leadbater, Leadbeater, Leadbeter, Leadbetter, Leadbitter and many more.

Early Notables of the Lidbitter family

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

Migration of the Lidbitter family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Albert Leadbeater settled in Philadelphia in 1848; Ann Leadbeater settled in Annapolis in 1725; John Leadbeter arrived in Philadelphia in 1811; T. and R. Leadbater arrived in New York in 1822..

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)