Gattint History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change, including many immigrants with new names. Gattint is a name for a watchman. The watchman was responsible for keeping guard over the gates of a castle or manor. However, another source claims the name was for "one who came from Gatton (enclosure where goats were kept), in Surrey." 1

Early Origins of the Gattint family

The surname Gattint was first found in Kent where they were granted extensive estates in that shire. Some of the first on record for this name include: Hemfrid de Gatton (born: 1094, died: unknown), Hamo de Gatton (1125-1165), Robert de Gatton (1147-1190) and Hamo de Gatton (1170-1216). Hamon de Gatton was granted lands in Throwly in Kent about the 12th century.

Much of the family remained in the Kent area as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Hamo de Gattane as holding lands there at that time. 2

Not all remained in Kent as Thomas de Gatton was listed in Suffolk in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1219 and Mabilia de Gatton was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire in the same year. 3

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum which was recorded temp. Henry III-Edward I, listed Robert de Gatton in Sussex and John de Gatton in Nottinghamshire. 4 The scattered migration continued as by 1379, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls listed Alicia de Gatton as a landholder. 2

Gatton is a parish, formerly a borough, in the union, and Second division of the hundred of Reigate, E. division of Surrey. "This was once a considerable town, and had a castle. It sent two members to parliament from the 29th of Henry VI. to the second of William IV., when it was disfranchised; the right of election was vested in the freeholders and inhabitants paying scot and lot, and the constable for the manor was returning officer." 5 Other sources note that Robert de Gatton, took his name from the lordship of Gatton temp. Henry III.

Early History of the Gattint family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gattint research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1501 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Gattint History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gattint Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Gattint have been found, including Gatton, Gatens, Gattan, Gattyn, Gattynd and others.

Early Notables of the Gattint family

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

Migration of the Gattint family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Gattint were among those contributors: George Gaton settled in Virginia in 1638; Thomas Gatens arrived in Philadelphia in 1840; Patrick Gatans arrived in Philadelphia in 1858; William Gattens settled in Maryland in 1774..

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. 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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.