- Origins Available:
England
Ireland
The name Heath has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived on a heath, which is an area of level, uncultivated land with poor, coarse, undrained soil and rich deposits of peat or peaty humus. The surname Heath belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.
Early Origins of the Heath family
The surname Heath was first found in Durham where it was first listed as Atte-Hethe, Apud Hethe and Del la Hethe in the Rotuli Hundredorum of 1279. [1] The name was denoted for someone who lived on or by a heath, typically filled with heather. [2] Kirby’s Quest for Somerset listed Adam atte Hethe and John atte Hethe during the reign of Edward III. [3]
Later in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, Robert del Heth was listed. Thomas Atte-Hethe was rector of Ringstead Parva, Norfolk in 1376 and Ralph atte Heythe was rector of Rockland Tofts, Norfolk in 1398. [4]
Robert Heete or Robert of Woodstock (d. 1428), was an early “canonist and civilian, presumably a native of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, became scholar of Winchester College in 1401, and in due course scholar of New College, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. and LL.B. ” [5]
Early History of the Heath family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heath research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1577, 1585, 1575, 1649, 1575, 1629, 1664, 1629, 1583, 1567, 1615, 1600, 1599, 1643, 1599, 1501, 1578, 1501, 1629, 1664, 1661, 1704, 1766, 1704, 1672 and 1728 are included under the topic Early Heath History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Heath Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Heath have been found, including Heath, Hethe and others.
Early Notables of the Heath family (pre 1700)
Notables of the family at this time include Sir Robert Heath (1575-1649), Attorney General of England, and founder of North Carolina and South Carolina. He was the son of Robert Heath of Brasted, Kent, a member of the Inner Temple and was born at Brasted on 20 May 1575. [5] James Heath (1629-1664), was a historian, son of Robert Heath, the king’s cutler, who lived in the Strand, was born in London in 1629, and educated in Westminster School. [5] Thomas Heath (fl. 1583), was an English mathematician, born in London and was admitted probationer fellow of All Souls, Oxford, in 1567. [5] John… Another 129 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heath Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Heath World Ranking
In the United States, the name Heath is the 545th most popular surname with an estimated 52,227 people with that name. [6] However, in Australia, the name Heath is ranked the 380th most popular surname with an estimated 9,740 people with that name. [7] And in New Zealand, the name Heath is the 497th popular surname with an estimated 1,376 people with that name. [8] The United Kingdom ranks Heath as 289th with 21,140 people. [9]
Migration of the Heath family to Ireland
Some of the Heath family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
