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![Show Contents]() Pettous History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Early Origins of the Pettous familyThe surname Pettous was first found in Norfolk 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 the lands of Rackheath, held by Godric, steward of the King who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Early History of the Pettous familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pettous research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1523, 1542, 1566, 1590, 1597, 1600, 1613, 1623, 1639, 1640, 1641, 1654, 1671, 1672, 1687, 1690, 1698, 1731, 1743 and 1772 are included under the topic Early Pettous History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pettous Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Pettus, Pettous, Petous, Petus, Pettous, Pettes and others. Early Notables of the Pettous familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Pettus (1523-1597) who was Sheriff (1566) and then Mayor (1590), of the city of Norwich; Sir Thomas Pettus, 1st Baronet (d. 1654) of Rackheath in the County of Norfolk, High Sheriff of Norfolk; Sir Thomas Pettus, 2nd Baronet (d. 1671); Sir John Pettus, 3rd Baronet (c. 1640-1698); Sir Horatio Pettus, 4th Baronet (c. 1672-1731); Sir John Pettus, 5th Baronet (d. 1743); and Sir Horatio Pettus, 6th...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pettous Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Pettous familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..
- 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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