Petay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Petay come from its first bearer, who was a small person. The surname Petay originally derived from the Old French word Petit which referred to small or tiny. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character.

Early Origins of the Petay family

The surname Petay was first found in Warwickshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times as Lords of the Manor of Ilmington conjecturally descended from the land holder recorded in the Domesday Book survey taken in 1086 A.D., as being held by Alric the pre-conquest holder from Robert of Stafford.

Early History of the Petay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Petay research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1124, 1296, 1382, 1395, 1548, 1566, 1567, 1583, 1589, 1621, 1623, 1628, 1629, 1639, 1660, 1661 and 1687 are included under the topic Early Petay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Petay 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. Petay has been spelled many different ways, including Pettey, Petty, Pettie, Pety, Petie and others.

Early Notables of the Petay family

Notables of the family at this time include Maximilian Petty (c 1583-1639), an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629; Edmund Petty (c. 1621-1661), an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660; and Sir William Petty FRS (1623-1687)...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Petay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Petay family to Ireland

Some of the Petay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Petay family

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 Petays to arrive in North America: James Pettey who settled in New Hampshire in 1718; Ann Pettey settled in Maryland in 1740; John Pettie landed in America in 1685; Sir William Petty settled in Pennsylvania in 1682.