Show ContentsBootha History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The founding heritage of the Bootha family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Bootha comes from when one of the family worked as a herdsman. The surname Bootha is derived from the Old English word bothe, which in turn comes from the Old Danish word both, which means cow-house or herdsman's hut. 1

Early Origins of the Bootha family

The surname Bootha was first found in Yorkshire where one of the first listings of the name was Gilbert Bothe, del Both in 1274. 2 This line continued to be strong as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 attest through the listing of: Rogerus del Boothe; Adam de Bothe; and Margeria de Bothe as all living there and holding lands at that time. 3

"The great family of Booth of Lancashire and Cheshire take their designation from their lordship of Booths in the former county, where they resided in the XIII century." 4 Indeed the Lancashire branch is of note as in "Booth as a surname, has strongly ramified in South Lancashire. " 3

Over in Barton-Upon-Irwell in Lancashire another branch of the family was found. "Barton Old Hall, a brick edifice, now a farmhouse, was the seat successively of the Barton, Booth, and Leigh families." 5

Early History of the Bootha family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bootha research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1566, 1622, 1626, 1652, 1675, 1678, 1680, 1684, 1685, 1689, 1690, 1694, 1700, 1758, 1890 and 1916 are included under the topic Early Bootha History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bootha Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Bootha has been spelled many different ways, including Booth, Boothe and others.

Early Notables of the Bootha family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir George Booth, 1st Baronet of Dunham Massey (1566-1652), Sheriff of Lancashire and Cheshire; George Booth, 2nd Baronet of Dunham Massey, 1st Baron Delamer (1622-1684), Member of the House of Lords, an English peer; Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington (1652-1694), Member of Parliament for Cheshire (1678-1685), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1689-1690); George...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bootha Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Bootha family to Ireland

Some of the Bootha family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bootha family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Boothas to arrive in North America: Thomas Booth who settled in Virginia was a descendant of the Earl of Warrington; Richard Booth who settled in Connecticut was from the Bowden branch in Cheshire.



The Bootha 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: Deus adjuvat nos
Motto Translation: God assists us.


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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