Donett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The surname Donett is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The family was originally from D'Anet, in Normandy, and it is from this location that their surname derives. 1

Other source disagree. Two sources note the name to be "derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Daniel,' from nick. Dan, diminutive Dann-et." 2 3

Early Origins of the Donett family

The surname Donett was first found in Norfolk, where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Cristiana Danet as holding lands at that time. 2 A few years later, we found John Danet in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 3

The source Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. has an entry for William Danet, Norfolk, 20 Edward I. (during the 20th year of King Edward III's reign.)

Some of the family were later found in Owlpen, a parish, in the union of Dursley, Upper division of the hundred of Berkeley, W. division of the county of Gloucester. The church there has "some memorials of the very ancient family of Danet, who formerly resided here, and were of considerable eminence." 4

"Dannatt is a slightly altered form of a Stamford [,Lincolnshire] name in the 17th century; Richard Dannalte or Danalt was an alderman of that town in 1645 and 1655. 5

Early History of the Donett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donett research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1187, 1189, 1332, 1359, 1431, 1510, 1545, 1559, 1561, 1566, 1593, 1596, 1600, 1601, 1612, 1620 and 1666 are included under the topic Early Donett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donett Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dannett, Dannet, Danet, Donat, Donatt, Donett, Donet, Dannatt, Danatt, Dannet, Dannant and many more.

Early Notables of the Donett family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Danett (fl. 1566-1601), was the English author of the following works:— 1. ‘The Description of the Low Countreys and of the Prouinces thereof, gathered into an Epitome out of the Historie of Lodouico Guicchardini,’ London, 1593, dedicated to Lord Burghley. 2. ‘A Continuation of the Historie of France from the death of Charles the Eight, where Comines endeth, till the death of Henry the Second [1559], collected by Thomas Danett, gentleman,’ London, 1600, dedicated to Lord Buckhurst. 3...
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Donett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Donett family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John Dennett who settled in Maine in 1630; Samuel Dennett and his wife Susannah arrived in west New Jersey in 1664; Alexander Dennett arrived in Maine in 1630.

Citations +

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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.