Chatto Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Buy JPG Image »

Clan Chattan or ' Clan of the Cats' was a powerful confederation of Scottish clans united in the year 1609. Originally composed of the Mackintoshes, Davidsons, Macphersons, MacGillivrays and MacBeans, it was later strengthened by the addition of the Farquharsons and other smaller clans that joined for protection. All these clans share the same Clan Crest and Motto, but have an individual Coat of Arms. Gillechattan Mor is claimed to have been the clan's first chief.

Chatto Early Origins

PDF Coat of Arms
+ Extended History

PDF Coat of Arms + Extended Surname History

Buy PDF History »

The surname Chatto was first found in on the lands of Chatto in Roxburghshire came a family bearing this as a surname. But records also reveal that the Chattan Clan originated in Warwickshire where they were recorded at Bromwich with manor and estates in that shire. They were originally of Chatou in Normandy. They moved northward at 1150 at the invitation of David, Earl of Huntingdon, and were granted lands on the Kale Water in the parish of Hounan, Roxburghshire, which they named Chatto. One of the first notables on record was Alexander Chatto, Constable of Roxburgh. Sir Adam Chatto rendered homage to King Edward I of England during the latter's brief conquest of Scotland in 1296, as did William and Robert Chatto. A later Sir Adam Chatto of Kelso was Sub Prior in 1531, and Richard Chatto was Sub Prior of Melrose in 1534. The Chattos family intermarried with the two distinguished Northumbrian families of Percy and Potts, and became involved in border warfare.

Chatto Spelling Variations

Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Chatto has been spelled Chatto, Chattoo, Chato, Chatoo, Katto, Cato, Schatto, Shatto, Chattow, Chattone and many more.

Chatto Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chatto research. Another 223 words (16 lines of text) covering the year 1672 is included under the topic Early Chatto History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chatto Early Notables (pre 1700)

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

The Great Migration

For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:

Chatto Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lewis Chatto who arrived in New York in 1820

Contemporary Notables of the name Chatto (post 1700)

William Andrew Chatto (1799-1864), English writer who used the pseudonym Stephen Oliver Jr
Ronald Keith Chatto (1924-1992), Australian comic book artist and writer
Tom Chatto (1920-1982), British actor who appeared on 28 titles from 1957 to 1982, known for Battle of Britain (1969), Quatermass II: Enemy from Space (1957) and When Eight Bells Toll (1971)
Beth Chatto OBE (b. 1923), English garden designer and author, creator of The Beth Chatto Gardens, Essex
Edgardo "Edgar" Migriño Chatto (b. 1960), Filipino politician, Governor of Bohol (2010-)
Daniel St. George Chatto (b. 1957), British artist and former actor, husband of Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones
Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto (b. 1964), only daughter of the 1st Earl of Snowdon and Princess Margaret

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: Omnibus amicus
Motto Translation: A friend to everyone.

Chatto Family Crest Products

Citations

Other References

Black, George F. The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3).
Prebble, John. The Highland Clearances. London: Secker & Warburg, 1963. Print.
Skene, William Forbes Edition. Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots and Other Early Memorials of Scottish History. Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House, 1867. Print.
Moncrieffe, Sir Ian of That Ilk and Don Pottinger. Clan Map Scotland of Old. Edinburgh: Bartholomew and Son, 1983. Print.
Martine, Roddy, Roderick Martine and Don Pottinger. Scottish Clan and Family Names Their Arms, Origins and Tartans. Edinburgh: Mainstream, 1992. Print.
Bain, Robert. The Clans and Tartans of Scotland. Glasgow & London: Collins, 1968. Print. (ISBN 000411117-6).
Donaldson, Gordon and Robert S. Morpeth. Who's Who In Scotish History. Wales: Welsh Academic Press, 1996. Print. (ISBN 186057-0054).
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X).
Magnusson, Magnus. Chambers Biographical Dictionary 5th edition. Edinburgh: W & R Chambers, 1990. Print.
Barrow, G.W.S Ed. Acts of Malcom IV 1153-65 Volume I Regesta Regum Scottorum 1153-1424. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1960. Print.
...

The Chatto Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Chatto Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 26 March 2016 at 20:52.