Bathard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

The name Bathard is a patronymic surname that comes from the Welsh personal name Atha. The original form of the surname Bathard featured the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "-ab," meaning "son of." The name was ab-Atha, which gradually became Batha. This surname may have also been an occupational surname given to the keeper of a bath.

Early Origins of the Bathard family

The surname Bathard was first found in Denbighshire (Welsh: Sir Ddinbych), a historic county in Northeast Wales created by the Laws in Wales Act 1536, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Bathard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bathard research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1391, 1574, 1586, 1590, 1598, 1616, 1622, 1683, 1752 and 1767 are included under the topic Early Bathard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bathard Spelling Variations

Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Bathard has occasionally been spelled Bather, Ap Atha, Bathar, Bathaw, Batho, Bathoe, Bayther and many more.

Early Notables of the Bathard family

More information is included under the topic Early Bathard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bathard family

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Bathard: Frank Bathers who arrived in Virginia in 1648.

The Bathard 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: Ut vivas vigila
Motto Translation: Watch that you may live.