Show ContentsThweatt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Thweatt is thought to have emerged in the border region between North England and Scotland. It is derived from the Old Norse "pveit," meaning "meadow, piece of land." Thus, the name originally referred to a "dweller at the meadow." 1

Thwaite as a parish can be found in Norfolk, Suffolk and as Thwaites in Cumberland. 2

Early Origins of the Thweatt family

The surname Thweatt was first found in Norfolk. The earliest known bearer of the name was Ralph del Thweit, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1206. Ralph de Tweit was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Norfolk in 1221 and later, Alan del Thweit was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. 3 The name later emerged in the northern county of Yorkshire, borne by a notable family.

Later in Scotland, the Twatt variant was "a surname common to both Orkney and Shetland. The Twatts of Orkney may derive their surname from Twatt in Birsay, and the Twatts of Shetland from Twatt in the parish of Aithsting. John Twatt or Tuait raised an action at law against the rest of the heirs of Twat in 1563, and in 1580 there is recorded a wadset by Magnus Tuait." 4

Early History of the Thweatt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thweatt research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1301, 1379, 1435, 1441, 1445, 1446, 1453, 1471, 1478, 1483, 1490, 1493, 1503, 1624, 1638, 1677, 1723, 1740, 1797 and 1824 are included under the topic Early Thweatt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thweatt Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Thwaites, Thwaits, Thwaite, Thweat, Thweatt, Thwaytes, Twaite, Twaites, Twaits, Tweats, Thoytes, Thwayte, Threet, Threat and many more.

Early Notables of the Thweatt family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Robert Thwaits, an English medieval academic administrator, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University (1441-1453) and Chancellor of Oxford University (1445-1446); Sir Thomas Thwaites (c.1435-1503), Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1471 to 1483, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1478 to 1483, and Treasurer of Calais from 1483 to 1490, was knighted in 1483, was arrested...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Thweatt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Thweatt migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Thweatt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Oliver Thweatt, aged 18, who immigrated to America, in 1918
  • O. Thweatt, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1919
  • William O. Thweatt, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1920

Contemporary Notables of the name Thweatt (post 1700) +

  • Laura Thweatt (b. 1988), American middle-distance runner, winner of the USA Cross Country Championships in 2015
  • Byron Douglas Thweatt (b. 1977), former American football linebacker who played from 2001 to 2003
  • Charley Thweatt (b. 1952), popular American singer and songwriter


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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