The name Douthitt is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in either Dowthwaite, in Cumberland or Dowthwaite Hall in the North Riding of Yorkshire. [1] [2]
The name literally means "a piece of ground cleared of wood, from the Anglo-Saxon thweotan, to cut." [3] [4]
The surname Douthitt was first found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland where John de Doventhuayt was recorded in 1332. Much later in Yorkshire, John Dowthwayt was recorded there at Whitby in 1540. [1] The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included an entry for Robertas de Dowthwayt. [5]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Douthitt research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1572, 1714, 1733, 1667 and 1662 are included under the topic Early Douthitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Douthitt were recorded, including Douthwaite, Douthert, Douthet, Douthat, Douthit, Douthirt, Douthwrait, Dowthwaite, Dowthert, Dowthet, Dowthirt and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Douthitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Douthitt is the 14,925th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [6]
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Douthitt family emigrate to North America: