Woodyat History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Woodyat family

The surname Woodyat was first found in Kent where this distinguished Anglo Saxon Kentish family have been seated in the county of Kent since about the year 1200 where, strangely, one of the first spellings of the name was Wdegat or Wdegate and was from a residence near the gate of a wood. [1]

Alternatively, the name could have originated in Woodyates in Dorset where William de Wudegat was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1199. A few years later, Walter de Wodiate was found in the same rolls for 1208. Later entries include: Aluric de la Wdegate in Essex in 1222; Martin atte Wodegate in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296; William Wodiet in Berkshire in 1328; and John atte Wodeyate in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. [2]

Early History of the Woodyat family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woodyat research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1586, 1618, 1651, 1700, 1726 and 1828 are included under the topic Early Woodyat History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woodyat Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Woodgate, Woodget, Woodgat, Wudgate, Wudgat and many more.

Early Notables of the Woodyat family (pre 1700)

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

Migration of the Woodyat family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: William Woodgate who settled in Virginia in 1635; Sarah Woodgate settled in Virginia in 1639.

The Woodyat 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: Esse quam videri
Motto Translation: To be, rather than to seem.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)