Show ContentsEscotts History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Escotts is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Bedfordshire. Their name, however, translates as the dweller at the eastern cottage, and indicates that the original bearer lived in such a place. 1

Early Origins of the Escotts family

The surname Escotts was first found in Bedfordshire, where Gundwinus de Estcota was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1190. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Richard de Estcott, Wiltshire; and Hugh de Estcote, Cambridgeshire. 3

Later the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex listed Robert atte Estcote in 1327. 2

Eastcourt is a hamlet, in the parish of Crudwell, union and hundred of Malmesbury, Malmesbury and Kingswood divisions of Wiltshire 4 and there are at least three villages name Eastcott (Wiltshire (2), Middlesex.) The oldest was Eastcourt, Wiltshire which dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Escote. Eastcott, Wiltshire dates back to 1167 and it was known as Estcota at that time. 5

Early History of the Escotts family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Escotts research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1570, 1571, 1572, 1584, 1586, 1587, 1601, 1607, 1624, 1628, 1629, 1668, 1676, 1684, 1712, 1793 and 1828 are included under the topic Early Escotts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Escotts Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Escotts are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Escotts include: Estcourt, Estcott, Estcotte, Eastcourt, Escott and many more.

Early Notables of the Escotts family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Thomas Estcourt (c. 1570-1624), an English lawyer and politician, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1607, Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1624; Sir Edward Estcourt of Salisbury; Richard Estcourt (1668-1712), an early English actor, active playing comedy parts in Dublin; and Sir Giles Estcourt, 1st Baronet (c. 1601-1668), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629, supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. He was from Newton in the County of Wiltshire and his descendants include: Sir Giles Estcourt, 2nd Baronet (died c. 1676); and...
Another 142 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Escotts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Escotts family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Escotts or a variant listed above: Thomas Escott who settled in Virginia in 1680.



  1. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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