Show ContentsBattam History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Battam was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. Battam is based on the Old English given name Batte, a pet form of Bartholomew. [1]

Early Origins of the Battam family

The surname Battam was first found in Somerset, where the "family of Batten have been seated for nearly six centuries. They are considered of Flemish origin. Among eminent merchants of the staple (wool-trade) temp. Edward I., were several De Beteyns and Batyns." [2]

The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 in Somerset include two entries for the family: Balin Bythemore; and Bathon Mayster. From these early spellings, the Feet of Fines of 1248 in Essex includes an entry for Walter Batun and later, Robert Batin was found in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1261. The Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire includes William Baton in 1275 and the same rolls for Staffordshire in 1327 lists John Batten. [3]

"Batten is an estate in the parish of North Hill, Cornwall, where an ancient gentle family of the name once resided. The Battens are now established in the Honiton district, and the Battings in the Exeter district. There was a Joel Batin in the hundred of Wonford as far back as the 13th century. Somersetshire, however, would appear to be the ancient home of the name, and for six centuries the name has been established there, though now scantily represented." [4]

Again in Somerset, we found the following early entries for the family as both a forename and surname: Thomas Batyn; Batin atte Vete; Batin Power; Batin Walkelayn: and Bathon Mayster. All were listed as 1 Edward III, in other words during the first year of the reign of King Edward III. [5]

Early History of the Battam family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Battam research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1500, 1561, 1580, 1600, 1624, 1630, 1633, 1661, 1667, 1687, 1720, 1743 and 1774 are included under the topic Early Battam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Battam Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Batten, Battin, Battyne, Baten, Batin, Batton and many more.

Early Notables of the Battam family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Batten (c. 1600-1667), an English naval officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1661 to 1667; and Henry Beighton (1687-1743), an English engineer and surveyor, Fellow of the Royal Society in 1720.Adrian Batten (fl. 1630), was organist of St. Paul's, the dates of whose birth and death cannot be ascertained. He was educated in the choir of Winchester Cathedral under John Holmes. In 1624 he removed to St. Paul's Cathedral, where he held the same office in addition to that of organist. Batten's name is well known...
Another 152 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Battam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Battam migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Battam or a variant listed above:

Battam Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Battam, who arrived in Maryland in 1637 [6]

Australia Battam migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Battam Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Battam, (b. 1796), aged 41, English labourer from Rolvenden, Kent, England travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maitland" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 6th November 1838, he died in 1857 [7]
  • Mrs. Lucy Battam, (nee Payne), (b. 1805), aged 32, English settler from Rolvenden, Kent, England travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maitland" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 6th November 1838, she died in 1880 [8]
  • Miss Caroline Battam, (b. 1824), aged 13, English settler from Rolvenden, Kent, England travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maitland" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 6th November 1838, she died in 1899 [9]
  • Mr. William Battam, (b. 1827), aged 11, English settler from Rolvenden, Kent, England travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maitland" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 6th November 1838 [10]
  • Miss Ellen Battam, (b. 1829), aged 9, English settler from Rolvenden, Kent, England travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maitland" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 6th November 1838 [11]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. 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)
  7. Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 11th July 2021). Retrieved from https://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5313/4_4780/Maitland_5 Nov 1838/4_478000079.jpg&No=27
  8. Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 11th July 2021). Retrieved from https://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5313/4_4780/Maitland_5 Nov 1838/4_478000079.jpg&No=28
  9. Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 11th July 2021). Retrieved from https://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5313/4_4780/Maitland_5 Nov 1838/4_478000079.jpg&No=29
  10. Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 11th July 2021). Retrieved from https://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5313/4_4780/Maitland_5 Nov 1838/4_478000079.jpg&No=30
  11. Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 11th July 2021). Retrieved from https://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5313/4_4780/Maitland_5 Nov 1838/4_478000079.jpg&No=31


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