This unusual name has two possible origins, both from old personal names. The first and most generally applicable to bearers of the modern-day surname is a diminutive form of the medieval given name 'Battle', itself a diminutive of 'Bartholomew', derived from the Aramaic patronymic 'bartalmay'. The name means 'having many furrows' and therefore 'rich in land'. Bartholomew was a very popular personal name in the Middle Ages, partly due to the fame of St. Bartholomew, the patron saint of tanners, vintners and butlers.
There are literally hundreds of European surnames from 'Bartholomew', among them the English forms 'Batten', 'Battin(g)' and 'Baton'. 'Batten' could also derive from an Old English pre 7th Century personal name 'Bata', meaning 'thickset', 'powerfully built'.The Coat of Arms granted to the Batten family has the blazon of a blue field thereon three battle-axes proper, headed in silver, handle garnished in gold. The crest being a hand couped in fesse charged with an eye. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Batun, witness, which was dated 1248, in the Fines Court Records of Essex, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as 'The Frenchman', 1216 - 1272. 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.
Discovering the historical roots of batten is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname batten, and in addition to the original locations of batten, we can find out where people with the surname batten can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of batten.
Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname batten. The mobility of people carrying the surname batten has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The historical chronicle of batten is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname batten are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname batten.
We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname batten, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname batten or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of batten.
It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished battens throughout human history. A surname like batten can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. If you or someone you know bears the surname batten, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname batten who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of batten. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname batten, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of batten.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of batten, and at the same time, of surnames in general.