This ancient surname is generally of early English origins, predating the Anglo-Saxons and Normans. It was usually an occupational name for a person employed by an abbot, or perhaps a nickname for one who was thought to conduct himself like an abbot! It is also possible that in some cases the name may refer to the offspring of an Abbot, however as the clergy were supposed to be celibrate there is an area of doubt. The surname also occurs widely in Scotland where it is either of English origin or a translation of MacNab, which also means 'son of the abbot'.
The original spelling was 'abbod', Ralph Abbod being recorded in Somerset in 1272. The patronymic is usually indicated by the suffix 's', and very occasionally as 'Abbotson', Dorothy Abbotson being recorded at St Botolphs Bishopgate, London, on November 11th 1823. The various spellings include such rare forms as Habbett and Labbet. Early recording examples include Walter Abat, in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219, and Elizabeth Abbet, who married Henry Waterman at the church of St Lawrence Poutney, London, on January 11th 1600. George Abbot (1562 - 1633) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1611, whilst Elizabeth Abbitt was recorded as 'living in Virginea, over the river' on February 16th 1623, making her one of America's earliest colonists. The Coat of Arms most associated with the name has the blazon of a red field, a gold chevron between three golden pears. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Abbot, which was dated circa 1190, in the Danelaw records of Lincolnshire, during the reign of King Richard 1, known as 'Richard the Lionheart', 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The history of the surname abbotts is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of abbotts. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname abbotts is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
It is common for surnames like abbotts to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname abbotts provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The historical journey of the surname abbotts can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of abbotts. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname abbotts, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of abbotts developed.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname abbotts, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about abbotts and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all abbottss who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname abbotts were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname abbotts. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of abbotts are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of abbotts, and at the same time, of surnames in general.