Show ContentsHattingh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hattingh reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Hattingh family lived in Hatton, Cheshire. Another derivation of the name suggests that it comes from the Germanic personal name Hatto, which is composed of the element hadu, which means strife or contention. 1 Although both are valid, time has confused the two definitions and historians now disagree on which is valid in any individual case.

Early Origins of the Hattingh family

The surname Hattingh was first found in Cheshire where this "noble family were descended from Sir Adam Hatton, of Hatton, county Cheshire, grandson of Wulfrid, brother of Nigel, who was lord of Halton in the same county, by gift of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, soon after the Conquest." 2

Early History of the Hattingh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hattingh research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1540, 1546, 1555, 1583, 1591, 1605, 1621, 1622, 1624, 1625, 1628, 1629, 1632, 1640, 1658, 1670, 1674, 1682, 1701, 1706, 1783 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Hattingh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hattingh Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Hattingh family name include Hatton, Hattons, Hattyn, Hattins, Hattans and others.

Early Notables of the Hattingh family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Christopher Hatton KG (1540-1591), an English politician, Lord Chancellor of England and a favourite of Elizabeth I of England. "He was the second son of William Hatton of Holdenby, Northamptonshire, who died in 1546. The family was old, and claimed, though on doubtful evidence, to be of Norman lineage. Hatton was entered at St. Mary Hall, Oxford, probably about 1555, as a gentleman-commoner." 3Sir Thomas Hatton, 1st Baronet (c.1583-1658), was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Corfe...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hattingh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hattingh Ranking

In South Africa, the name Hattingh is the 372nd most popular surname with an estimated 18,950 people with that name. 4

Ireland Migration of the Hattingh family to Ireland

Some of the Hattingh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hattingh migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Hattingh family to immigrate North America:

Hattingh Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Johannes Theobald Hattingh, aged 25, who landed in America from Bland or Eland Cont, Tarkestad, South Africa, in 1919

Contemporary Notables of the name Hattingh (post 1700) +

  • Christian Hattingh, South African politician, Member of the National Council of the Provinces (2015-)
  • Grant Neil Hattingh (b. 1990), South African rugby union footballer from Johannesburg
  • Ilze Hattingh (b. 1996), South African tennis player from Durban; he has been junior number one girl tennis player on multiple occasions
  • Lieutenant General Hattingh Pretorius SD SM MMM (1942-2008), South African military commander, Chief of the South African Army (1993-1994)


The Hattingh 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: Nil conscire sibi
Motto Translation: To have a conscience free from guilt.


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames


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