Bitter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Bitter family
The surname Bitter was first found in Shropshire at Bitterley, a parish, in the union of Ludlow, partly in the hundred of Munslow, but chiefly in the hundred of Overs. 1 The place name dates back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as Buterlie. 2 The place name literally means "pasture which produces good butter," from the Old English "butere" + "leah." 3
Near the village the Bitterley Hoard, the largest post medieval / English Civil War Coin Hoard was discovered on 17 February 2011. The find consists of one gold coin and 137 high denomination silver coins from the reign of Edward VI.
Early History of the Bitter family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bitter research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1377, 1380, 1383, 1384, 1388, 1390, 1393, 1394, 1396, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Bitter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bitter Spelling Variations
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Bitter has been spelled many different ways, including Bitterley, Bitterly, Biterley, Biterley and others.
Early Notables of the Bitter family
Distinguished members of the family include
- John Bitterley (died c. 1396) English politician, Member of Parliament of England for Salisbury for 1377, January 1380, February 1383, April 1384, February 1388, January 1390, 1393, and 1394...
Bitter Ranking
In the United States, the name Bitter is the 18,335th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4
Bitter migration to the United States +
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Bitters to arrive in North America:
Bitter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Johannes Bitter, who arrived in America in 1750 5
- Lucia Bitter, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 5
- Johan Jacob Bitter, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 5
- Lawrence Bitter, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1761 5
Bitter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Heinrich Bitter, (Henry), aged 47, who landed in Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Armenius" 5
- Mrs. Carlota Bitter, aged 36, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Armenius"
- Mr. Franz Bitter, aged 13, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Armenius"
- Mr. Henry Bitter, aged 11, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Armenius"
- Mr. William Bitter, aged 9, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Armenius"
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Bitter (post 1700) +
- William Benz "Billy" Bitter (b. 1988), American lacrosse player
- Karl Theodore Francis Bitter, American (Austria born) sculptor
- Erich Bitter (1933-2023), German automobile designer, road racing cyclist, and automobile racer, founder of Bitter Automotive
- Johannes Bitter (b. 1982), German team handball player and goalkeeper
- Theodorus "Theo" Bitter (1916-1994), Dutch graphic artist
Citations +
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)