Byatt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Byatt surname derives from the Old English words "bi," meaning "beside" and "yerd," meaning "enclosure." Thus the name is thought to have been originally used to describe someone who lived near a closed in yard. 1
The Byatt variant has a slightly different derivation, "dweller by the gate," from the Old English "geat" or Middle English "yat, gate." 1
Early Origins of the Byatt family
The surname Byatt was first found in Sussex, where Thomas Byerd, was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, 1296. 1 Byard's Leap is a small hamlet, west of Cranwell in Lincolnshire, which is associated with various legends. The hamlet is associated with the activities of the Knights Templar.
Bayard is a magic bay horse in the legends from 12th century Europe derived from the chansons de geste. He is renowned for his strong spirit and is able to adjust his size to his riders.
Nicholas Byate was found in Colchester, Essex in 1297 and later in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 1
Early History of the Byatt family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Byatt research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1557, 1561, 1570, 1574, 1602, 1625, 1638, 1642 and 1643 are included under the topic Early Byatt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Byatt Spelling Variations
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Byatt has been recorded under many different variations, including Byart, Byard, Biard, Byatt and others.
Early Notables of the Byatt family
Notables of this surname at this time include: Libius Byard, who was a Canon of the 3rd prebend of Worcester (1561-1570).
John Biard was a London bookseller in 1643. This name...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Byatt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Byatt migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Byatt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. William Byatt, (b. 1816), aged 18, English labourer who was convicted in Essex, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
- Mr. Rupert Byatt, (b. 1820), aged 20, English agricultural labourer who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Eden" on 8th July 1840, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1879 3
Byatt 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:
Byatt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Charles Byatt, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 4
- Robert Byatt, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 4
- Mr. Charles Byatt, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th February 1863 5
- Mr. Robert Byatt, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th February 1863 5
- Thomas Byatt, aged 29, a painter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Byatt (post 1700) +
- Dame Antonia "A.S." Byatt DBE (1936-2023), pen name of Dame Antonia Susan Duffy, an English postmodern novelist, poet and Booker Prize winner, one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945
- Andy Byatt, English wildlife documentary film producer for the BBC Natural History Unit
- Dennis John Byatt (b. 1958), English former football central defender
- Sharon Byatt, British actress, best known for her role as Irenee in Carla Lane's Bread, born in Liverpool
- Joyce Esther Byatt (b. 1937), birth name of Joyce Esther Smith, a British former long-distance runner
- Sir Ian Byatt (b. 1935), British economist, former Director General of the economic regulator of the water industry in England and Wales
- Horace Archer Byatt (1875-1933), British colonial governor, Commissioner of British Somaliland (1911-1914), Governor of Tanganyika (1920-1922), Governor of Trinidad and Tobago (1924-1929)
Citations +