Show ContentsTetan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Tetan comes from the family having resided in the township of Tatton found in the parish of Rostherne in the county of Cheshire. The surname Tetan is a habitation name that was originally derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The surname originated as a means of identifying individuals from a particular area. In the Middle Ages people often assumed the name of the place that they originally lived as their surname during the course of travel.

Early Origins of the Tetan family

The surname Tetan was first found in Cheshire at Tatton, a small civil parish now in the Borough of Cheshire East. "Robert Tatton of Kenworthy, in Northended, who married the heiress of William de Withenshaw, alias Massy, about the latter end of the reign of Edward III, is the first proved ancestor of this family, but there is reason to believe that he was descended from the much more ancient house of the name who were seated at Tatton in the twelve century. " 1

Tatton Park is a historic estate just north of the town of Knutsford and is home to Tatton Hall and Tatton Old Hall, a manor house which dates back to the 16th century. "The manor passed with Etchells, in Northen parish, and became the property of the Tatton family." 2

Early History of the Tetan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tetan research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1606, 1643, 1645, 1646, 1659, 1669, 1736 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Tetan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tetan Spelling Variations

Tetan has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Tatton, Tatten, Tattin, Tattone, Tattan, Taton, Taten, Tayton, Taytton, Taitten, Teyton, Teitton, Tetton, Tettin, Tetten, Tettan, Taytone, Teytone, Tattons, Tattens, Tattins, Tattans, Teytons and many more.

Early Notables of the Tetan family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Robert Tatton (1606-1669), High Sheriff of Chester between 1645 and 1646, a supporter of King Charles I in the English Civil War, Robert is perhaps best known for the ultimately unsuccessful defence of...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tetan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tetan family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Tetans to arrive on North American shores: Molly Tatton settled in New York State in 1849; Joseph Tatton settled in New England in 1646.



  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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