Show ContentsSutain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Sutain is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Sutain family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Sutain family lived in Somerset, at Sutton Montague.

Early Origins of the Sutain family

The surname Sutain was first found in Nottinghamshire where they were descended from Dreu de Montaigu who came into England at the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D. in the train of the Count of Mortain. His first seat was at Sutton Montague in Somerset, and the family later acquired Sutton upon Trent near Tuxford in Nottingham, where they became Lords of the manor and the Barons Dudley.

"Sutton-upon-Trent gave name to this ancient family, the first upon record being Roland, son of Hervey, who lived in the reign of Henry III., and married Alice, daughter and coheiress of Richard de Lexington." 1

There are countless listings of the place name throughout Britain in the Domesday Book with various spellings due to the literal meaning of the name "south farmstead or village." 2 The parish Averham in Nottinghamshire was an ancient family seat.

"At the time of the siege of Newark, many skirmishes occurred here; and in 1644, the ancient manor-house, then belonging to Robert Sutton, Lord Lexington and Baron of Averham, and which had been the residence of the family from 1250, was destroyed." 3

However, the church in Averham and Kelham still hold many relics and several ancient memorials to the Suttons. Some of the church windows date back to 1220. On the south wall is a mural monument, adorned with cherubs and armorial bearings, to the memory of the Right Hon. Robert Lord Lexington, having descended from "ye ancient family of ye Suttons." 3

Kelham Hall has been the present family seat since it was built in the 1860s.

Early History of the Sutain family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sutain research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1310, 1342, 1359, 1380, 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386, 1388, 1391, 1394, 1397, 1399, 1400, 1401, 1406, 1414, 1425, 1428, 1440, 1460, 1483, 1487, 1532, 1594, 1625, 1640 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Sutain History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sutain 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 Sutton, Suton, Suttone and others.

Early Notables of the Sutain family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Sutton (died 1414), of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, an English politician, one of the wealthiest and most influential merchants in Lincoln, a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Lincoln in 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386, 1388, 1391, 1394, 1397 and 1399, brother, John Sutton, was also an MP for Lincoln, as was his son, Hamon Sutton; Hervey of Sutton, first Lord of Sutton upon Trent; John Sutton (1400-1487), 1st Baron Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1428-30 and Member of Parliament from 1440 to 1487; as well as his son, Sir...
Another 122 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sutain Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Sutain family to Ireland

Some of the Sutain family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sutain 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 Sutain or a variant listed above: Ambrose Sutton who settled in Charlestown Massachusetts in 1640; Annis Sutton settled in Virginia in 1639; Dorothy Sutton settled in Barbados in 1679.



The Sutain 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: Pour y parvenir
Motto Translation: To accomplish it.


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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