Hiatt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Hiatt is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having lived in the village of Ayott in the county of Hertfordshire. The surname Hiatt can be translated as at the high-gate, a gate that led into a protected enclosure. 1 2

However, two other sources claims the name was "derived from a geographical locality. 'Of High-gate,' corrupted to Hy-yate, and finally Hyett. Probably Highgate in London is referred to as the instances are mostly found in that locality." 3 4

Early Origins of the Hiatt family

The surname Hiatt was first found in Hertfordshire at Ayot(t), of which there are two villages: Ayot(t) St. Lawrence, a parish, in the union of Welwyn, hundred of Broadwater; and Ayot(t) St. Peter, a parish, in the union of Welwyn, hundred of Broadwater. The Ayot(t) St. Lawrence "parish during the heptarchy, formed part of the possessions of the last of the Saxon monarchs; and a spot in the immediate vicinity, still called Dane End, commemorates a signal defeat of the Danes by King Ethelwulph." 5 Collectively the place names were listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Aiete. 6

The first record of the family was actually found in Somerset, where John atte Hagheyate was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 7

From this entry we found James Hyet listed in London in 1514, John Hyett in Worcester in 1539, and William Hiatt in Leicestershire in 1599. 4

Early History of the Hiatt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hiatt research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1583, 1601, 1608, 1618, 1628, 1641, 1651, 1658, 1677, 1681, 1698, 1722, 1727, 1730, 1738, 1859 and 1943 are included under the topic Early Hiatt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hiatt Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Hiatt has been recorded under many different variations, including Hyatt, Huyet, Hyett, Hyat, Hyet, Hytte and others.

Early Notables of the Hiatt family

Distinguished members of the family include Walter Hoyt (Haite, Hayte, Hoit, Haight) (1618-1698) from West Hatch, Somerset, he emigrated to America in 1628 and became a founding settler of Norwalk, Connecticut and later served in the General Court of the Connecticut Colony between 1658 and 1681. Charles Hyett (c. 1677-1738), of Painswick House, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hiatt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hiatt Ranking

In the United States, the name Hiatt is the 2,796^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 8

Hiatt migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hiatt or a variant listed above:

Hiatt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Hiatt, who arrived in New York in 1840 9

Hiatt migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hiatt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Hiatt, aged 34, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"

Contemporary Notables of the name Hiatt (post 1700) +

Howard Haym Hiatt (1925-2024), American medical researcher involved with the discovery of messenger RNA, past dean of the Harvard School of Public Health (1972-1984), and co-founder and associate chief of the Division of Social Medicine and Health Inequalities at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston
Frederick Samuel Hiatt (1955-2021), American journalist and editorial page editor of The Washington Post, son of Howard Haim Hiatt
Melissa Ann "Missy" Hiatt (b. 1963), American professional wrestling valet
Phil Hiatt (b. 1969), American retired Major League Baseball player who played from 1993 to 2001
John Hiatt (b. 1952), American singer/songwriter nominated for 11 Grammy awards
Shana Hiatt (b. 1975), American model and presenter
Ruth Hiatt (1906-1994), American silent film actress
Marta Hiatt (b. 1934), American author and therapist
Jack Hiatt (b. 1942), American former Major League Baseball player
Lovy Lorene Hiatt (1881-1966), American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1924; Fremont County Recorder, 1927-30 10
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Hiatt 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: Fac et spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. 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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html