Route History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Etymology of Route

What does the name Route mean?

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought many new words to England from which surnames were formed. Route was one of these new Norman names. It was specifically tailored to its first bearer, who was a happy or cheerful person. The surname Route was originally derived from the Old English word rot, which meant glad or pleased.

Early Origins of the Route family

The surname Route was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Route family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Route research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1086 is included under the topic Early Route History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Route Spelling Variations

A 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 Root, Rouet, Rout, Roots, Roote, Rootes and others.

Early Notables of the Route family

More information is included under the topic Early Route Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Route migration to the United States +

Many 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 Route or a variant listed above:

Route Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas De Route, aged 63, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 1

Sources +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)