The surname Garthwait was first found in Durham where they held a family seat on the English/Scottish border. After the Norman Conquest of England many of Duke William's rebellious Barons moved north. The border became a convenient no-man's land. Notable families such as the Percy, the Umfravilles and the Nevilles gathered many supporting clans around them. In the 16th century they became known as the 'unruly clans'. In that century, many of those clans drove their herds south, and they settled in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name was first recorded in the 14th century.
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Early History of the Garthwait family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garthwait research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Garthwait History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Garthwait Spelling Variations
During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Garthwait occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Garthwaite, Gartwaite, Garthwhite, Garthwait and many more.
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Early Notables of the Garthwait family
More information is included under the topic Early Garthwait Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Garthwait family
Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Garthwait, or a spelling variation of the surname include: settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.
England
