Quylter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Quylter 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 Quylter family

The surname Quylter 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 Quylter family

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

Quylter Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Quilter, Quelter, Quylter and others.

Early Notables of the Quylter 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 Quylter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Quylter family to Ireland

Some of the Quylter 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 Quylter family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Quylter 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)