Ertem History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Ertem is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Ertem family lived in Cumberland at Yrton, from whence they took their name.

Early Origins of the Ertem family

The surname Ertem was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Yrton (Irton.) The first on record was Richard of Yrton who is mentioned soon after the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D. He was succeeded by Bertram d'Yrton, then Adam d'Yrton, a knight of St. Jerusalem, who attended Godfrey of Boulogne at the siege of Jerusalem. Adam slew a Saracen General during the siege, by lopping off his head. "The Manor of Irton has belonged also to the [family] almost from the time of the Conquest. " 1

Early History of the Ertem family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ertem research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1280, 1753 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Ertem History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ertem 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 Irton, Yrton, d'Yrton, Erton, Eyrton and others.

Early Notables of the Ertem family

More information is included under the topic Early Ertem Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ertem 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 Ertem or a variant listed above: Thomas Irton who landed in North America in 1710.

The Ertem 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: Semper constans et fidelis
Motto Translation: Always constant and faithful.

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.