Platten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The roots of the distinguished surname Platten lie in Germany, and chronicles claim two different origins for this name. Some sources suggest the origin is found in the mediaeval German word for the maker of breast plates for armor. Other sources claim the name stems from the German word for "plateau."

Early Origins of the Platten family

The surname Platten was first found in Brandenburg, where the name was an integral part of a feudal society which would shape modern European history. Many prominent branches of the family would strive to make this name renowned as they contributed to the social, economic and political affairs of the region. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was the knight Otto cum Plata ("breast plate",) who lived at Ruegen around 1255.

Platten is an Ortsgemeinde (municipality) in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany that dates back to at least 1084 when it was first listed as "villa Platana."

Early History of the Platten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Platten research. Another 277 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1536, 1563, 1565, 1574, 1604, 1614, 1628, 1669, 1796 and 1835 are included under the topic Early Platten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Platten Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Plath, Plathe, Plather, Plate, Plat, Plater, Platt, Platter, Platten, Platen, Platener, Platner, Plattener, Pletener, Plettener, Plaettner, Plaetner, Plaeth, Plathner, Plett, Pletter, Pletten, Pleten, Pleter, Plettner, Blate, Blatte, Blatten, Blath and many more.

Early Notables of the Platten family

Notable figures of the time with the name Platten were Thomas Platter, who was a prominent humanist from Basel. He began as an Alpine goatherder, then journeyed through Germany on foot and became a printer...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Platten Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Platten migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Platten Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter Platten, aged 48, who landed in Brazil in 1827 1

Platten migration to Australia +

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

Platten Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Platten, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Steadfast" 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Platten (post 1700) +

Rachel Ashley Platten (b. 1981), American Emmy Award winning singer and songwriter from New York City, besty known for her single "Fight Song" (2015) and her album Wildfire (2016)
Stephen George Platten TSSF (b. 1947), English Anglican prelate from Southgate, Bishop of Wakefield (2003-2014)
John Patrick Platten (b. 1963), medal-winning Australian rules footballer who played for South Australia (1982-1997)
Fritz Platten (1883-1942), Swiss Communist from the Canton of St. Gallen; he protected Lenin during the attack in Petrograd on January 1, 1918 but was imprisoned at later shot on 22 April 1942

Citations +

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)
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEADFAST 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/steadfast1852.shtml