Mottershead (surname)

Mottershead (surname)

Mottershead is an English habitation name which has its common root in the township of Mottram St. Andrew in Cheshire, England where it was first recorded in the 13th century as "Mottresheved", from the gen. case of the OE byname "Mōtere" 'Speaker' + ME "heved" head(land), hill. The motto of the family is the Latin "Pro Amore Patriae" ("For the love of the homelands")

It was to this region that descendants of a Norman knight "Mottresheved" (or maybe the knight himself) came after the Norman Conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 and there are references to the name in the Domesday Book.

The possibility does exist that the knight's Domesday listing was a corruption of the location name already in existence. The name also may denote a building where village assemblies were held.

Typical features of the Mottersheads, such as their size (not overly tall) and colouring (especially dark brown hair - not many blondes) suggests a strong Welsh influence.

Name bearers

People

*Thomas Mottershead

Other links

*Mottram St. Andrew

References

External links

* [http://www.riggwelter.co.uk/ A family website with further information]
* [http://www.mottersheads.org/ Another Mottershead website with further information]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mottershead — This unusual surname is of Anglo Saxon origin, and is a locational name from a now lost place in the parish of Mottram, Cheshire, recorded in the 13th Century as Mottresheved , from the genitive case of the Olde English pre 7th Century byname… …   Surnames reference

  • Mottershaw — This is an English locational surname which may have some association with the similar name of Mottershead. Both relate to places which once existed, but apparently do not any longer and are therefore classed as lost medieval villages. It is… …   Surnames reference

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