Rabett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Rabett family first reached the shores of England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Their name is derived from the given name Robert, which is adapted from the Norman personal name Radbode. This latter name is composed of the Germanic elements rad, meaning counsel or advice, and bodo, meaning message or tidings.

Early Origins of the Rabett family

The surname Rabett was first found in Suffolk where "this ancient family who have resided at Bramfield for several centuries, claim a Norman descent." 1 Following the Norman descent deeper, we found "Hugh Rabace in Normandy 1180-95 and Gerard Rabes there in 1198." 2 However, the family was clearly in England about the same time: "Robert Rabaz gave Kenilworth or Chillingworth Church, Northamptonshire to De la Pré Abbey, which gift was confirmed by Henry II. [his reign: 5 March 1133-6 July 1189]" 2 St. Andrew's Church, Bramfield is a 13th century church which has ledger slabs of members of the Rabett and Nelson families.

Early History of the Rabett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rabett research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1298, 1313, 1316 and 1467 are included under the topic Early Rabett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rabett Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Rabbit, Rabett, Rabit, Rabbitt and others.

Early Notables of the Rabett family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Stephen de Rabett was Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in 1298
Robert Rabett was Member of Parliament for Rutland (1313-1316), Lord of Preston, Ridlington and Ayston. 2 William Rabett was Member of Parliament for Dunwich, Suffolk in 1467

Migration of the Rabett family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Rabett or a variant listed above: Thomas Rabbetts, a bonded passenger who came to America in 1753; Michael Rabbit who settled in Philadelphia in 1851; and John Rabbit, who arrived in Indiana sometime between 1853 and 1855..

Contemporary Notables of the name Rabett (post 1700) +

Mary Rabett, daughter of Reginald Rabett, of Branfield Hall, Suffolk, wife of Henry Maynard, 3rd Viscount Maynard, British peer
Catherine "Katie" Rabett (b. 1960), British actress, known for her roles in The Living Daylights (1987), Maurice (1987) and Roger Corman's Frankenstein Unbound (1990)

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)