Armitage History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The name Armitage first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in the county of Yorkshire in eastern England. Records show that most, if not all of the bearers of the surname can be traced back to a family living at Hermitage Bridge in Almondbury, near Huddersfield in the 13th century.

Early Origins of the Armitage family

The surname Armitage was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Kirkless, a hamlet, in the chapelry of Hartshead cum Clifton, parish of Dewsbury, wapentake of Morley. The hamlet was originally the site of a Cistercian nunnery, founded in the reign of Henry II and later passed to the Pilkingtons and later "to the Armytages, whose mansion formed part of the conventual buildings, till the time of James I., when the family erected Kirklees Hall, the present seat of Sir George Armytage, Bart." 1

Early History of the Armitage family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Armitage research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1596, 1600, 1629, 1641, 1644, 1652, 1653, 1655, 1660, 1662, 1673, 1677, 1694, 1732, 1736, 1737 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Armitage History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Armitage 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 Armitage has appeared include Armitage, Hermitage, Ermytache, Ermitage, Armitach, Hermitack, Armitack and many more.

Early Notables of the Armitage family

Notables of the family at this time include

Armitage Ranking

In the United States, the name Armitage is the 7,557th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Armitage is ranked the 776th most popular surname with an estimated 8,709 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Armitage family to Ireland

Some of the Armitage family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Armitage migration to the United States +

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 Armitage arrived in North America very early:

Armitage Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Armitage Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Armitage Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Armitage migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Armitage Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Armitage migration to Australia +

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

Armitage Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Armitage migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Armitage Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Armitage (post 1700) +


The Armitage Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Semper paratus
Motto Translation: Always prepared.
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