The Ancient History of the Distinguished Surname

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The ancient chronicles of England reveal the early records of the name Micklethwaite as a Norman surname, which ranks as one of the oldest. The history of the name is closely interwoven within the majestic tapestry as an intrinsic part of the history of Britain.

In-depth research by skilled analysts into ancient manuscripts such as the Domesday Book (complied in 1086 by William the Conqueror), the Ragman Rollo, the Wace poem, the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey, The Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies, local parish and church records, shows the first record of the name Micklethwaite was found in Yorkshire where they were conjecturally descended from the great Norman house of Buron, and was represented by Erneis de Buron, who held the lands of Micklethwaite at Muceltuit at the taking of the Domesday Book in the year 1086.

Many alternate spellings were found in the archives researched, typically linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. Although your name, Micklethwaite, appeared in many references, from time to time the surname included Muclewaite, Micklethwait, Micklethwayt, Micklethwaite, Muclethwait, Muclethwaite, Muclethwayte, Meiklethwaite, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded. Typically a person would be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with a headstone which showed another. All three spellings related to the same person. Sometimes preferences for different spelling variations either resulted from a branch preference, religious affiliation, or sometimes nationalistic statements.

The family name Micklethwaite is believed to be descended originally from the Norman race, frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin. They were more accurately of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D., under their King, Stirgud the Stout. Thorfinn Rollo, his descendant landed in northern France about the year 940 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple, after rolls laid siege to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy, the territory of the north men. Rollo married Charles' daughter and became a convert to Christianity. Duke William who invaded and defeated England in 1066, was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.

Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086, and recorded it in the Domesday Book. A family name capable of being traced back to this manuscript, or to Hastings, was a signal honour for most families during the Middle Ages, and even to this day.

The surname Micklethwaite emerged as a notable family name in the county of Yorkshire where they were Lords of the manor of Micklethwaite in the parish of Beeston. They later branched to Faverham in Norfolk, and in Yorkshire Sir William Micklethwaite of Ingbirchworth and Kimberworth was the ancestor of the Viscounts Micklethwait. By marriage with the Peckhams the Micklethwaites acquired Iridge Place in Sussex where Sir Sotherton Branthwayt Micklethwaite was scion of that branch. Meanwhile in Yorkshire they also acquired Ardsley, Thornville, and Swayne. Their present family seats are at Ardsley, Taverham Hall, and Iridge Place. Prominent amongst the family at this time was Viscount Micklethwaite, Sir William Micklethwaite.

The surname Micklethwaite contributed much to local politics and in the affairs of England or Scotland. During the 11th and 12th centuries many of these Norman families moved north to Scotland. Later, in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by religious and political conflict. The Monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy. Religious elements vied for control, the State Church, the Roman Church and the Reform Church. All, in their time, made demands on rich and poor alike. They broke the spirit of men and many turned from religion, or alternatively, renewed their faith, pursuing with vigour and ferocity, the letter of the ecclesiastical law. Many families were freely "encouraged" to migrate to Ireland, or to the "colonies". Nonbelievers or dissidents were banished, sometimes even hanged.

The settlers in Ireland became known as the "Adventurers for land in Ireland". They undertook to keep the Protestant faith. There is no record of this distinguished family migrating to Ireland, but this does not preclude the possibility of individual migration.

The democratic attitudes of the New World spread like wildfire. Many migrated aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the "White Sails". The stormy Atlantic, small pox, dysentery, cholera and typhoid took its toll on the settlers and many of these tiny, overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 or 70% of their passenger list. The migration or banishment to the New World continued, some voluntarily from Ireland, but mostly directly from England or Scotland, their home territories. Some clans and families even moved to the European continent.

In North America, migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the family name Micklethwaite, or variable spellings of that same family name included W. Mucklethwait settled in the Barbados in 1722. From the port of arrival many settlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the American War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.

There were many notables of this name Micklethwaite, Sir Robert Gore Micklethwait, Q.C., Chief National Insurance Commissioner, Hon. Knight, Hon. Society of the Knights of the Round Table; Rear Admiral St. John Aldrich Micklethwait, C.B. D.S.O.

In the process of researching this distinguished family name we also traced the most ancient grant of Arms from the branches which developed their own Arms.

The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was:

Chequered silver and red with a blue stripe at the top.

The Crest was, A griffin's head.

The ancient family motto for this distinguihed name was: