Mitch History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Mitch was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Mitch family lived in "Monfichet, or Montfiquet, in the arrondissement of Bayeaux, said to be so named from their Scandinavian ancestor. " 1 2 Early Origins of the Mitch familyThe surname Mitch was first found in Essex at Stansted Mountfitchet, a village and civil parish in the union of Bishop-Stortford that dates back to the Domesday Book when it was listed as Stanesteda. By c.1290, the village was known as Stansted Mounfichet from the Muntfichet (Montfitchet) family who resided there since the 12th century. 3 However, other records date back further revealing Robert Gernon Montfitchet holding lands there at the time of the Conquest that included a castle, of which there are still some remains. Another source claims the name is "descended from Robert Gernon, a great tenant in [the] Domesday [Book]. His son, according to Morant, took this name from the castle of Stanstead, county Essex, from the raised mount which he there constructed. " 2 "The castle of Montfichet long remained, as well as the Church of St. Catherine in the castle, a foundation of this family. About 1050 Robert, surnamed Guernon (moustache), Baron of Montfichet, witnessed a charter of Duke William (Gall. Christ. xi. Instr. 229). He had issue, 1, William de Montfichet, who d. s. p., when the barony devolved on William, the son of his brother; 2, Robert Guernon or Gernon, who held a great barony in Essex, &c., 1086. From his elder son William de Montfichet descended the Barons of that name, whose seats were at Stanstead Montfichet, Essex, and Montfichet Tower, London, of which city the Montfichets were hereditary standard-bearers or military chiefs in time of war. The younger branches retained the name of Gernon. Alured Gernon, brother of William de Montfichet, had estates in Essex and Middlesex 1130 (Rot. Pip.). Matthew, his son, 1135 witnessed a charter of William Montfichet (Mon. i. 803). Ralph, his son, 1165, held a fief from Montfichet in Essex, and was granted Bakewell, Derbyshire, by Richard I." 1 Early History of the Mitch familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mitch research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1296, 1312, 1542, 1543, 1544, 1556 and 1557 are included under the topic Early Mitch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Mitch Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Muschat, Muschet, Montfichett, Montfiquet and many more. Early Notables of the Mitch familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Mitch Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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