Herrat History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Herrat family

The surname Herrat was first found in Midlothian where they held a family seat from early times and held the lands of Heriot, and were found there as early as c. 1164, when Henry of Heriot witnessed confirmation of the church of Karnewid (Carnwath) to Joceline, bishop of Glasgow.

"Laurence de Herryhot witnessed a grant of the lands of Swaynystoun to the Hospital of Soltre c. 1221-1238. The lands of Trabroun in the sheriffdom of Berwick were confirmed to John de Heriot de Trabroun, son and heir of James de Heriot de Nudre Marschele in 1424." 1

Further to the south in England, Richard de Heriett, de Herierd was found in Berkshire and Bedfordshire according to the Feet of Fines of 1197-1198. 2

In Somerset, Walter Henriot was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III) 3 and in Norfolk Heriot Heringflet (no date). 4

Early History of the Herrat family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Herrat research. Another 264 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1221, 1424, 1429, 1458, 1468, 1504, 1525, 1537, 1549, 1550, 1560, 1563, 1570, 1580, 1585, 1586, 1588, 1591, 1621 and 1624 are included under the topic Early Herrat History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Herrat 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. Herrat occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Herriot, Heriot, Harriet, Hariet, Herriott, Harriott and many more.

Early Notables of the Herrat family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John of Heriot of Trabrown, Chief of the Clan in 1424. George Heriot (1563-1624), was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He was "founder of Heriot's Hospital, Edinburgh, was born in that city 15 June 1563. His father, George Heriot, who belonged to the old Haddingtonshire family, the Heriots of Trabourn, settled early as a goldsmith in Edinburgh, which he represented repeatedly in the Scotch parliament. The younger Heriot was brought up in the business of his father, who, on his marriage in 1586 to the daughter of a respectable Edinburgh tradesman, gave...
Another 143 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Herrat Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Herrat 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 Herrat, or a spelling variation of the surname include: Mr. Harriet who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1820; Roger Harriet settled in South Carolina in 1822; Andreas Herriot who settled in Maryland in 1743.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print