This unusual and interesting surname, with the spellings Artis, Artiss, Artist, Artois and Artus, is of French origin, and is the Anglicization of a locational name Artois, from a region in northern France so called. It is likely that this name was introduced into Britain after the Norman Conquest of 1066, Artois being the centre of Tapestry manufacturing for the whole of Europe. The following examples illustrate the name development since 1327 (see below): John Artes (1524, in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk); Thomas Arteis (1568, in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk); Robert Artis (1674, in the Hearth Tax Returns of Suffolk); and Abraham Artus (1724, in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York).
Recordings of the surname from London Church Registers include: the marriage of Samuel Artis and Rebecca Chamberlain on May 15th 1705, at St. Ann and St. Agnes, Aldersgate, and the marriage of John Artis and Mary Collingwood on June 27th 1721, at St. Antholin, Budge Row. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Artoys, which was dated 1327, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. 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 artois is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of artois. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname artois is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
It is common for surnames like artois 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 artois provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The historical journey of the surname artois can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of artois. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname artois, 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 artois developed.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname artois, 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 artois and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all artoiss who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname artois were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname artois who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname artois. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of artois 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 artois, and at the same time, of surnames in general.