Dealtray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Dealtray

Dealtray is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Dealtray family lived in Sussex at Moor House, Petworth, not far from Battle Abbey. 1 Hawtrie is an adaptation of Hauterive, Normandy, the name of which literally means high river.

"In recording the foundation of Heryngham Priory by William Dawtree, the Monasticon thus speaks: 'The latin word 'Ripa,' was in Norman writings generally meant for a river, without relation to 'Ripa' a bank. The Romans called it 'Haultrey.' There was an ancient family of knights, owners of much lands in these parts, and of fair possessions, even in the very bosom of the 'high stream' from which they took their name, and were called 'De Haul-trey.' "The ancient house" here alluded to was the stem of many important branches, the most flourishing of which was that planted in the county of Sussex, at Moor House in Petworth, not very far from Battle Abbey itself. It produced a series of knightly generations, which held the highest rank in their country, and intermarried with its noblest families. " 1

Early Origins of the Dealtray family

Early History of the Dealtray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dealtray research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1659, 1758 and 1767 are included under the topic Early Dealtray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dealtray Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Hawtre, Hawtree, Hawtrie, Dawtre, Dawtree, Dawtrie, Hawtrey, Haultrey, Dealtre, Dealtrie, Dawtrey, Dawtry, Daltry, Haltry, Haltrie and many more.

Early Notables of the Dealtray family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Dawtrey, Esq. of Moor House, Doddinghurst, died s. p. in 1758, having bequeated his estates to (the son of his sister Sarah) his nephew, and heir, Richard Luther,, Esq. of Myles's, in Essex, who m. Charlotte, daughter of Dr. Hugh Chamberlen, the famous Court Physician, temp. Queen Anne, and-died at Vicars Hill, Hants, in 1767...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dealtray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dealtray family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Dealtray or a variant listed above: John Dawtres who settled in Virginia in 1636; William Dawtrey settled in Barbados in 1683.