Bywater History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Bywater is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived on the waterfront. The name means "dweller by the water," and refers to residence near a river, lake, or coast.
Early Origins of the Bywater family
The surname Bywater was first found in West Yorkshire at Allerton Bywater, a semi-rural village and civil parish in the south-east of City of Leeds. Today Allerton Bywater is made up of old mining villages including: Brigshaw, Hollinhurst and Bowers Row and is famous for its Allerton pottery. Looking back into history, the village dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Alretune, but by 1430, the village was listed as "Allerton by ye water." The "water" reference is the River Aire. Allerton literally means "farmstead or village where alder-trees grow" from the Old English words alor + tun. 1
Early History of the Bywater family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bywater research. Another 233 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1219, 1279, 1327, 1379, 1500, 1597 and 1666 are included under the topic Early Bywater History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bywater Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bywater are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Bywater include: Bywater, Biwater, Byewater, Bithewater, Bipewatere, Beyewatyr, Bythewater, Bethewater and many more.
Early Notables of the Bywater family
More information is included under the topic Early Bywater Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bywater migration to the United States +
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bywater or a variant listed above:
Bywater Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Nathaniel Bywater, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 2
- Gervas Bywater, who landed in New Jersey in 1675 2
- Gervase Bywater, who arrived in New Jersey in 1675 2
- G. Bywater who arrived in New Jersey in 1675
Bywater Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Michael Bywater, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1857 2
- Christina Bywater, aged 55, who landed in New York in 1864 2
- David Bywater, aged 20, who arrived in New York in 1864 2
- Geo G Bywater, aged 36, who landed in New York in 1864 2
- George Bywater, aged 59, who arrived in New York in 1864 2
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bywater Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Selwyn Bywater, aged 26, who arrived in America from London, England, in 1903
- Susan Bywater, aged 43, who arrived in America from Leeds, England, in 1907
- James Wm. Bywater, aged 28, who arrived in America from Newport, England, in 1907
- Arthur Bywater, aged 21, who arrived in America from Danetty, Wales, in 1907
- Herbert Bywater, aged 36, who arrived in America from Huntingdon, England, in 1908
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bywater migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Bywater Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
- Evelyn Beatrice Bywater, aged 4, who arrived in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1920
- Olive Gertrude Bywater, aged 30, who arrived in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1920
- William Bywater, aged 35, who arrived in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1920
Bywater migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Bywater Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. James Bywater, English convict who was convicted in Chatham, Kent, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 28th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
- Mr. Robert Bywater, English convict who was convicted in Plymouth, Devon, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 4
- William Bywater, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Sultana" 5
- Miss Sarah Alice Bywater, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Duchess of Northumberland" on 25th November 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
Contemporary Notables of the name Bywater (post 1700) +
- Harriet "Hetti" Bywater (b. 1994), English actress, best known for playing Lucy Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders
- Stephen Bywater (b. 1981), English footballer who has played since 1997, member of the England U21 National Team (2001-2003)
- Ingram Bywater (1840-1914), prominent English classical scholar
- Hector Charles Bywater (1884-1940), British journalist and military writer
- Jim Bywater, British actor, best known for his role as Wilf Starkey on Coronation Street in 1985
- Ronald Charles Eric "Ron" Bywater (1919-1974), Australian rules footballer who played from 1942 to 1950
- Terrance "Terry" Bywater (b. 1983), British two-time bronze medalist wheelchair basketball player at the Paralympic Games (2004 and 2008)
- Richard Arthur Samuel Bywater GC (1913-2005), British civilian awarded the George Cross and George Medal, one of only eight people to have been awarded both medals, and the only civilian
- Michael Bywater (b. 1953), British writer and broadcaster
- Thomas Bywater, Emeritus Professor of Agriculture at the University of Leeds
Citations +
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- 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)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia. Retrieved 25th March 2022 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emerald-isle
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SULTANA 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Sultana.htm
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duchess-of-northumberland