The name Bater is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It is a name for someone who worked as a coppersmith or a dealer in baterie. The surname Bater is possibly derived from the Old French word bateor, meaning one who beats, a term which has been applied to a beater of cloth or fuller. The surname may also be a short form of the word orbatour, which means a beater of gold.
The surname Bater was first found in Berkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bater research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1200, 1273, 1349, 1369, 1777, 1635 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Bater History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bater 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. The variations of the name Bater include: Beater, Beeter, Beatere, Betere, Batere, Bettere and many more.
Distinguished members of the family include Richard Batere, a prominent 12th century landholder in Berkshire; and Thomas Patrick Betterton (ca. 1635 - 1710), English actor buried in Westminster Abbey. He "was born in Tothill Street, Westminster, and was apprenticed by his father, who was under-cook to Charles I, to a bookseller. These are...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bater Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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 Bater or a variant listed above: