Botha History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Botha comes from one of the family having worked as a herdsman. The surname Botha is derived from the Old English word bothe, which in turn comes from the Old Danish word both, which means cow-house or herdsman's hut. 1
Early Origins of the Botha family
The surname Botha was first found in Yorkshire where one of the first listings of the name was Gilbert Bothe, del Both in 1274. 2 This line continued to be strong as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 attest through the listing of: Rogerus del Boothe; Adam de Bothe; and Margeria de Bothe as all living there and holding lands at that time. 3
"The great family of Booth of Lancashire and Cheshire take their designation from their lordship of Booths in the former county, where they resided in the XIII century." 4 Indeed the Lancashire branch is of note as in "Booth as a surname, has strongly ramified in South Lancashire. " 3
Over in Barton-Upon-Irwell in Lancashire another branch of the family was found. "Barton Old Hall, a brick edifice, now a farmhouse, was the seat successively of the Barton, Booth, and Leigh families." 5
Early History of the Botha family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Botha research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1566, 1622, 1626, 1652, 1675, 1678, 1680, 1684, 1685, 1689, 1690, 1694, 1700, 1758, 1890 and 1916 are included under the topic Early Botha History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Botha Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Botha have been found, including: Booth, Boothe and others.
Early Notables of the Botha family
Notables of the family at this time include Sir George Booth, 1st Baronet of Dunham Massey (1566-1652), Sheriff of Lancashire and Cheshire; George Booth, 2nd Baronet of Dunham Massey, 1st Baron Delamer (1622-1684), Member of the House of Lords, an English peer; Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington (1652-1694), Member of Parliament for Cheshire (1678-1685), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1689-1690); George...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Botha Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Botha Ranking
In South Africa, the name Botha is the 20th most popular surname with an estimated 128,008 people with that name. 6
Migration of the Botha family to Ireland
Some of the Botha family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Botha migration to the United States +
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Botha, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :
Botha Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- William Botha, who landed in America in 1890 7
Contemporary Notables of the name Botha (post 1700) +
- Annie Botha (1864-1937), South African civic leader and political hostess, she established an orphanage in South Africa, and co-founded and chaired the South African Women's Federation
- Louis Botha (1862-1919), South African general in the Boer War, and first prime minister of the Union of South Africa (1910–1919)
- Mike Botha (b. 1947), raised in South Africa, a Canadian diamond cutter who trained under David du Plessis
- Brendon James Botha (b. 1980), better known as BJ Botha, a South African former rugby union player
- Lukas "Luki" Botha (1930-2006), Formula One driver from South Africa who raced in the 1967 World Championship Grand Prix, driving a privately entered Brabham BT11
- Wendy Botha (b. 1965), South African four-time world surfing champion who won her first title in 1987
- Willem Botha (b. 1987), South African singer, actor and music producer
- Adriaan Botha (b. 1977), retired South African sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres
- Andre Botha (b. 1980), South African bodyboarder
- Francois Botha (b. 1968), South African former professional boxer and kickboxer
- ... (Another 33 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
The Botha 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: Deus adjuvat nos
Motto Translation: God assists us.
Citations +
- Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
- 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)