Oddnott History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Oddnott was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. Oddnott is based on the Norman name Odinet, from which the more commonly known Odo is derived. Apart from the aforementioned patronymic origin, the place name could also mean "pleasant valley," from the Welsh "hawdd" meaning "pleasant" or "peaceful" and "nant," a "glen or valley." 1 Early Origins of the Oddnott familyThe surname Oddnott was first found in Shropshire at Hodnet, a village and civil parish in the union of Drayton, in the hundred of North Bradford. 2 The first record of the place name was found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Odenet. 3 "The Hodnets, or Hodnetts, derive their name from the Shropshire parish of Hodnet. During the 13th century there was a powerful family in the county that took the name of De Hodenet from either the manor or the parish of the name." 4 Early History of the Oddnott familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oddnott research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1116 and 1237 are included under the topic Early Oddnott History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Oddnott Spelling VariationsA multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Hodenet, Hignett, Hignet, Hodnet, Hodnett, Hodenett, Hodinett, Hodinutt, Hodinut, Hodinott, Hodinot, Hoddenett, Hoddinet, Hoddinutt and many more. Early Notables of the Oddnott familyMore information is included under the topic Early Oddnott Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Oddnott family to IrelandSome of the Oddnott family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Oddnott familyMany English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Oddnott or a variant listed above: Humphrey Hadnett, who sailed to Virginia in 1635; Elizabeth and James Hignett sailed to Maryland in 1666; John Hignett to Maryland in 1675; Francis Hadnett arrived in Boston Massachusetts in 1767.
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