Shutts History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Shutts family had a variety of origins as variations of the name had several meanings in ancient England. The name could have meant "dweller at a Shoot or Shut, i.e. a narrow lane or avenue" from the Old English words "shoot" or "shut" or it could have been a name for an "archer" from the Old English word "scytta" and finally, it could have been a nickname for someone who was "quick" or "ready" from the Old English word "sceot." 1

But the more likely origin of the name was as a local name from either Devon or Wiltshire.

Early Origins of the Shutts family

The surname Shutts was first found in Wiltshire at Chute, a civil parish that includes the village of Upper Chute and the smaller settlements of Lower Chute, Chute Standen, Chute Cadley and Chute Forest.

Alternatively the name could have originated from Shute, a parish, in the union of Axminster, hundred of Colyton in Devon. This place name dates back to c. 1200 when it was listed as Schieta and literally meant "the corner or angle of land." 2 The Old Shute House located nearby is now an impressive edifice that dates back to a simple building built in 1380. It is currently held by the National Trust. "The Shutes of Gillingham bear the name of an old Devonshire family and of a Devonshire parish." 3

To confuse matters more, another source claims the family came from "the castle of Shute, in Normandy, France." 4

Somerset was a stronghold of the family in early years as Kirby's Quest listed: Robert atte Shoete; Simon atte Sheote; William atte Shote; and Walter atte Shotte, Somerset as all residing there "1 Edward III," or in other words "during the first year's reign of King Edward III." 5

Early History of the Shutts family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shutts research. Another 178 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1268, 1500, 1506, 1542, 1545, 1563, 1567, 1584, 1588, 1590, 1595, 1610, 1621, 1632, 1643, 1654, 1659, 1661, 1662, 1665, 1666, 1696, 1698, 1722, 1742 and 1764 are included under the topic Early Shutts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shutts Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Shute, Chute, Chewte, Shutes and others.

Early Notables of the Shutts family

Distinguished members of the family include Philip Chute or Chowte (c. 1506-1567), of Horne Place, Appledore, Kent, an English politician, Member of Parliament for Winchelsea 1542 and 1545; Sir Robert Chute, Justice of the Queen's Bench, 1584; Anthony Chute (fl. 1590s; died 1595), an Elizabethan poet and pamphleteer; John Shute (d. 1563), an English artist and architect; Josias Shute (also Josiah) (1588-1643), an English churchman, rector of St Mary Woolnoth in London, Archdeacon of Colchester, and...
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shutts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shutts Ranking

In the United States, the name Shutts is the 13,409^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Shutts family to Ireland

Some of the Shutts family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shutts migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shutts Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Sarah Wallace Shutts, who landed in America, in 1903
George Clinton Shutts, aged 57, who immigrated to America, in 1909
Emma Luden Shutts, aged 57, who settled in America, in 1909
Ruth Redington Shutts, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
Everett Shutts, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Shutts (post 1700) +

Walter Shutts, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Columbia County 1st District, 1865 7
Frank B. Shutts, American co-founder Shutts & Bowen LLP is a Florida-based law firm in 1909

The Shutts Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortune de guerre
Motto Translation: The fortune of war.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html