Show ContentsHawte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hawte

What does the name Hawte mean?

Hawte is one of the oldest family names to come from the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from the ancient personal name Auty. which means dweller by the fen. 1 In some cases, the name was extended to denote 'the son of Auty.' 2

The prefix "H" as in Hawte, Hawtey and others were popular.

Early Origins of the Hawte family

The surname Hawte was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the name Auti, Alti and Outi are recorded. 3 These mononyms were typical of the time. Later ion Norfolk, in the Pipe Rolls of 1166, Outi de Lincol was listed as holding lands and a few years later, Walterus filius Aulti was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1177. In Yorkshire, we found Willelmus filius Auti in the Pipe Rolls for 1200. John Oty was listed in Huntingdonshire in 1251. 1

The name Hawte was a "well-known surname in Yorkshire," 2 as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Simon Auty et Johanna uxor ejus; Robertas Auty; and Cecilia Auty. 2

Early History of the Hawte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hawte research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1302, 1357, 1379, 1381, 1390, 1397, 1399, 1415, 1430, 1462, 1497, 1506 and 1784 are included under the topic Early Hawte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hawte Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Hawte has undergone many spelling variations, including Auty, Autie, Autee, Awty, Awtee, Awtie, Hawtie and many more.

Early Notables of the Hawte family

  • Sir Nicholas Haute (1357-1415), of Wadden Hall (Wadenhall) in Petham and Waltham, with manors extending into Lower Hardres, Elmsted and Bishopsbourne, in the county of Kent, was an English knight, lan...

Migration of the Hawte family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. 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 Hawte were among those contributors: Henry Auty, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1871; and Alfred Auty to Philadelphia in 1878.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook