The Obarte name is an important part of the history of the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Obarte is derived from the baptismal name Hubert. [1] As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honour of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are very few Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures.
However, another source claims the name could have been a nickname "from the small Falcon or Hawk so called (Old French hobert, a hobby, hawk)." [2]
The surname Obarte was first found in Norfolk as "Hubbard is a characteristic Norfolk name. The early form of the name in this and the neighbouring counties, both in Domesday times and in the centuries immediately following, was Hubert, occasionally written Huberd; and we find that Robert Hubert or Hoberd was rector of Seaming at the close of the 14th century." [3]
Over in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Petrus Hubard; Alicia Hubard; Isabella Hoberd; and William Hoberd as all residing there at that time.
"The Visitation of Essex (1541) gives the surname of the family of Huberd indiscriminately as Huberd, Hobert, Hubert, and Hobart. Memorials of a family spelt indifferently Hubbard or Hobart are (or were) to be found in Little Plumstead Church, Norfolk." [1]
Some of the family did migrate to Scotland, but much later on and in small numbers: "Patrick Hobart, was burgess of Dundee in 1649." [4]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Obarte research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1611, 1560, 1625, 1588, 1507, 1560, 1625, 1593, 1647, 1621, 1624, 1625, 1626, 1628, 1683, 1667, 1654, 1656, 1657, 1699, 1699, 1695, 1756, 1746, 1632 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Obarte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Obarte were recorded, including Hobart, Habart, Habbard, Hobert and others.
Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir James Hobart (d. 1507) of Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, Attorney General during the reign of King Henry VII. , He was the youngest son of Thomas Hobart of Leyham in Norfolk. [5]
Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet SL (c. 1560-1625), of Blickling Hall, an English judge and politician. He was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, from a family long settled in Norfolk and Suffolk, was great-grandson of Sir James Hobart. [q. v.].
He was the son of Thomas Hobart of Plumstead, Norfolk. [5]
He would establish the first of the two baronetcies for the Hobart...
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Obarte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Obarte family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Obarte family emigrate to North America: Edmund Hobart settled in Charleston in 1630; Joshua, Jeremiah, Peter, Sarah, and Thomas Hobart settled in Boston in 1635.