Gateacre History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Gateacre is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a a cat. It was given to someone who was cunning, malicious, or nimble. The surname Gateacre also referred to someone who enjoyed good eating. This surname may also be referred in the patronymic as the son of the one nicknamed gata.

Early Origins of the Gateacre family

The surname Gateacre was first found in Shropshire which was "a family of great antiquity, and which is said to have been established at Gatacre by a grant from Edward the Confessor." 1

The Gatacre local cannot be found today but the History of Parliament notes about William Gatacre (by 1499-1577): "Although not a leading family in Shropshire, the Gatacres were influential at Bridgnorth, five miles from their home."

Indeed the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following: John de Gatacre and Stephen de Gatacre, both from Shropshire. 2

Early History of the Gateacre family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gateacre research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1160, 1331, 1499, 1533, 1553, 1554, 1574, 1577, 1593 and 1654 are included under the topic Early Gateacre History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gateacre Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Gateacre have been found, including Gatacre, Gataker and others.

Early Notables of the Gateacre family

Notables of the family at this time include William Gatacre (by 1499-1577) was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Shropshire in November 1554; and his son, Thomas Gatacre (by 1533-1593), an English politician and cleric; and his son, Thomas Gataker (1574-1654), an English clergyman and theologian. He "was born on 4 Sept. 1574, in the rectory house of St. Edmund's, Lombard Street. His father was Thomas...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gateacre Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gateacre family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Gateacre surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were: John Gatacre who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1832.

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)