Acatour History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Acatour

What does the name Acatour mean?

Acatour is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a caterer. The surname Acatour was an official name, "the cater," derived from the Old French ale catour, a title meaning a buyer of groceries for the gentleman's house. They were in charge of maintaining provisions in manors and castles. The cater's job assumed a great importance during extended sieges of his lord's castle, which could last for years.

Early Origins of the Acatour family

The surname Acatour was first found in Berkshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. William le Catur who was documented in the year 1273 in Essex and a few years later, Bernard le Acatour was listed in 1300 in Somerset. William Katerer was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379.

Early History of the Acatour family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Acatour research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1150 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Acatour History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Acatour Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Acatour has appeared include Cater, Cator, Cather, Catter, Cader and others.

Early Notables of the Acatour family

More information is included under the topic Early Acatour Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Acatour family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Acatour arrived in North America very early: George Cater who settled in Virginia in 1642; Mary Cator, who came to Virginia in 1726; Sarah Cater, who settled in New England in 1760; Andrew and Jane Cather, who arrived in New York in 1823 with their three children.