Show ContentsLowet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Lowet name is derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "louvet," meaning a "wolf cub." It is thought to have originally been a nickname which came to be a surname.

Early Origins of the Lowet family

The surname Lowet was first found in Berkshire, where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of lands held by the great Norman Baron William Louvet who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086 who was also granted lands in Bedford, Northampton, Worcester and Leicester.

Early History of the Lowet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lowet research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1125 and 1172 are included under the topic Early Lowet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lowet Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Louvet, Lovet, Lovett, Lovatt and others.

Early Notables of the Lowet family

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

Ireland Migration of the Lowet family to Ireland

Some of the Lowet family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lowet family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Gurtred Lovett, who arrived in Virginia in 1635; Ann Lovett, who settled in Virginia in 1652; William Lovet, who came to Maryland in 1674; Elizabeth Lovet, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1682.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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