Bath History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Wales 
  Ireland 


From the land of Wales came the name of Bath. The evolution of this Celtic name can be traced back to when the Bath family lived in the settlement of Bathe Barton in North Tawton, in the county of Devon, or in the famed cathedral city of Bath in Somerset. The surname Bath belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. However, some scholars believe this surname to be a patronym derived from the Welsh personal name Atha. The original form of this name was ab-Atha, which was abbreviated to Batha. 1

Early Origins of the Bath family

The surname Bath was first found in Somerset, and Gloucestershire where they were one of the earliest families to settle on the English/Welsh border.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Job de Bath in Sussex, while Kirby's Quest listed John de Bathe, Somerset, 1 Edward III; and John atte Bathe, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 2

Henry de Bathe or Bathonia (d. 1261), was an English judge, "said to have been a younger brother of Walter de Bathe, and to have been born at the family seat, Bathe House, North Tawton, Devon." 3

Let's take a moment to explore Henry de Bath(e)'s life in more detail: "The barton of Bath is associated with a notable piece of folklore. It was the name, place, and seat of the family of Bath, De Bath, or Bathon a house sometime of much note. Of this stock was Sir Henry Bath, Justice Itinerant to Henry III., who was charged with corruption in his office, and respecting whom Henry is said to have declared at his trial, ' Whosoever shall kill Henry de Bath shall be quit of his death, and I do hereby acquit him.' However, Bath was fortunate enough not only to be taken into favour again, but to be made Chief Justice of the King's Bench. He died in 1261. The point of folklore raised is not unique, which makes it the more curious. " 4

Early History of the Bath family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bath research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1238, 1350, 1351, 1397, 1402, 1409, 1450, 1460, 1476, 1478, 1500, 1536, 1559, 1564, 1570, 1586, 1592, 1595, 1596, 1597, 1607, 1610, 1614 and 1649 are included under the topic Early Bath History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bath Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society in the 15th century. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Bath has seen various spelling variations: Bath, Bathe and others.

Early Notables of the Bath family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Bath Ranking

In the United States, the name Bath is the 17,052nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Bath is ranked the 799th most popular surname with an estimated 51 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Bath family to Ireland

Some of the Bath family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 354 words (25 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Bath migration to the United States +

The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Bath:

Bath Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Bath Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Bath Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Bath Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Bath migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bath Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Bath Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Bath migration to Australia +

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

Bath Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Bath 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:

Bath Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Bath (post 1700) +


The Bath 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: Habere et dispertire
Motto Translation: To have and to share with others.
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