Torbitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Torbitt

What does the name Torbitt mean?

The ancestors of the Torbitt family arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Torbitt came from the Norman given name Terbert.

Early Origins of the Torbitt family

The surname Torbitt was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat. The definition that the name was derived from the name of a fish can be discounted as Victorian historians whimsical nonsense. The family held a family seat in Yorkshire and was a noble name during the time of King Richard 1st (about 1190 A.D.) and all indications are that this was a Norman name which appeared in the Domesday Book, 1 a survey of England taken by Duke William of Normandy in the year 1086 A.D., after his conquest of England in 1066 A.D. and appears as Turbert, a person holding lands.

Early History of the Torbitt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Torbitt research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the year 1710 is included under the topic Early Torbitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Torbitt Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Turbutt, Turbott, Turbert, Turbett, Turbot and many more.

Early Notables of the Torbitt family

Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Torbitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Torbitt migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Torbitt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Torbitt, aged 29, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dunedin" in 1875 2
Mary Torbitt, aged 22, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dunedin" in 1875 2

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 9th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html