Quelter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Quelter surname is occupational in origin. It is derived from the Middle English/Old French word "cuilte," which meant "mattress." As a surname, it was no doubt originally used by a maker of quilts and mattresses. 1

Early Origins of the Quelter family

The surname Quelter was first found in London, where Richard le cuilter was listed c. 1179. A few years later, Ralph le Cuilter was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Warwickshire in 1186, and later Walter le Quilter was listed in the 12th century in Lincolnshire. 2

Oxfordshire where one of the first records of the name was Richard le Quilter who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 3

Early History of the Quelter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Quelter research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1841, 1886, 1897 and 1911 are included under the topic Early Quelter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quelter Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Quilter, Quelter, Quylter and others.

Early Notables of the Quelter family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Cuthbert Quilter (1841-1911), of Bawdsey Manor in Bawdsey in the County of Suffolk who in 1897 had the Quilter Baronetcy created for him. He was one of the founders of the...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Quelter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Quelter family to Ireland

Some of the Quelter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Quelter family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Quelter or a variant listed above: Mark Quilter, who came to Ipswich, MA in 1648; William Quiltar, who came to New York in 1851; Daniel Quilter, who arrived in Ohio in 1852; and Francis Quilter, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1852..

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. 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)