Catter is a name that was formed by the Anglo-Saxon society of old Britain. The name was thought to have been used for someone who once worked as a caterer. The surname Catter was an official name, "the cater," derived from the Old French ale catour, a title meaning a buyer of groceries for the gentleman's house. They were in charge of maintaining provisions in manors and castles. The cater's job assumed a great importance during extended sieges of his lord's castle, which could last for years.
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Early Origins of the Catter family
The surname Catter was first found in Berkshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. William le Catur who was documented in the year 1273 in Essex and a few years later, Bernard le Acatour was listed in 1300 in Somerset. William Katerer was listed in the YorkshirePoll Tax of 1379.
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Early History of the Catter family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Catter research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1150 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Catter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Catter Spelling Variations
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Catter include Cater, Cator, Cather, Catter, Cader and others.
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Early Notables of the Catter family
More information is included under the topic Early Catter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Catter family
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Catter were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: George Cater who settled in Virginia in 1642; Mary Cator, who came to Virginia in 1726; Sarah Cater, who settled in New England in 1760; Andrew and Jane Cather, who arrived in New York in 1823 with their three children.
England
