Of all the
Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Douthit is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the village of Douthwait, which was located on the border of North
Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Early Origins of the Douthit family
The surname Douthit was first found in
Lancashire 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.
Early History of the Douthit family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Douthit research.
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Douthit History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Douthit Spelling Variations
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few
hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Douthit has been spelled many different ways, including Douthwaite, Douthert, Douthet, Douthat, Douthit, Douthirt, Douthwrait, Dowthwaite, Dowthert, Dowthet, Dowthirt and many more.
Early Notables of the Douthit family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Douthit Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Douthit family to the New World and Oceana
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Douthits to arrive in North America: Abraham Dowthwaite who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1796 with his brother Robert; William Douthwaite arrived in Philadelphia in 1803.
Contemporary Notables of the name Douthit (post 1700)
- T. B. Douthit, American politician, Mayor of Salem, North Carolina, 1893-94
- Samuel J. Douthit, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Greenville Court House, South Carolina, 1865-66
- J. B. Douthit Jr., American Democrat politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from South Carolina, 1940