Show ContentsMeikelthwaite History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Meikelthwaite is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Meikelthwaite family lived in Yorkshire, at Micklethwaite, an area of Wetherby on the south bank of the River Wharfe. Micklethwaite is also a hamlet in Cumbria, north east of Wigton.

Early Origins of the Meikelthwaite family

The surname Meikelthwaite was first found in Yorkshire where they were conjecturally descended from the great Norman house of Buron, and was represented by Erneis de Buron, who held the lands of Micklethwaite or Muceltuit at the taking of the Domesday Book in the year 1086. The Micklewright variant was a nickname for "'the mickle wright,' i.e. the big wright." 1

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Adam de Mekkclhawayth; Magota Mekkelwayth; Johanna de Mickilwayte; and William de Mickilwayte as all living in Yorkshire and holding lands at that time.

Micklethwaite-Grange is a very small liberty in the Upper division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. And today, the town of Micklethwaite is a suburb of Bingley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "This place is one of the thirty-two lordships granted by the Conqueror to Erneis de Berun." 2

Early History of the Meikelthwaite family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meikelthwaite research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1612, 1680, 1682, 1718, 1727 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Meikelthwaite History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meikelthwaite Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Meikelthwaite are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Meikelthwaite include Muclewaite, Micklethwait, Micklethwayt, Micklethwaite, Muclethwait, Muclethwaite, Muclethwayte and many more.

Early Notables of the Meikelthwaite family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Micklethwaite; Sir John Micklethwaite M.D. (1612-1682), an English physician, who attended Charles II, President of the Royal College of...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Meikelthwaite Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Meikelthwaite family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Meikelthwaite, or a variant listed above: W. Mucklethwait settled in Barbados in 1722.



The Meikelthwaite 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: Favent numine
Motto Translation: By the favour of Providence.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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