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.
Early Origins of the Chatto family
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.
Early History of the Chatto family
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 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.
Early Notables of the Chatto family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Chatto Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Chatto family to the New World and Oceana
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
The Chatto 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.