Bittle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Bittle

What does the name Bittle mean?

The rich and ancient history of the Bittle family name dates back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It comes from the Old English personal name Bita. Alternatively, the name could have been "derived from an official title, 'the beadle,' one who executed processes or attended proclamations." 1

Early Origins of the Bittle family

The surname Bittle was first found in Somerset, where John le Bedal, was recorded 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of Edward III) in Kirby's Quest. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Geoffrey le Bedel in Kent, Martin le Bedel in Norfolk and Walter Bidellus in Lincolnshire. 1

Early History of the Bittle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bittle research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1615, 1652, 1662, 1738, 1745, 1750, 1774, 1775, 1778, 1779, 1786, 1821 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Bittle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bittle 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 Bittle have been found, including Biddle, Biddell, Biddelle and others.

Early Notables of the Bittle family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Henry Biddulph of Biddulph; John Biddle or Bidle (1615-1662), born at Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire, an influential English nontrinitarian, and Unitarian, often called "the Father of English Unitarianism"; Nicholas Biddle (1750-1778), one of the first five captains of...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bittle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bittle Ranking

In the United States, the name Bittle is the 10,259^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Bittle migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Bittle, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :

Bittle Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Fra Bittle, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 4

Bittle Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Bittle, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 4

Bittle migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bittle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Bittle, aged 27, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1875 5
Emily Bittle, aged 23, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1875 5
Albert Bittle, aged 4, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1875 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Bittle (post 1700) +

R. Harry Bittle (b. 1938), American politician, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1969-1982)
Ryan James Bittle (b. 1976), American television actor, known for his roles in All My Children (2013), Sweet Valley High (1994) and Take Me Home Tonight (2011)
Frederick Bittle Kegley (1877-1968), American author from Virginia, agricultural leader and educator, best known for his Virginia Frontier The Beginning of the Southwest (1938)

Historic Events for the Bittle family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Sammy Dale Bittle (1966-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Cheraw, South Carolina, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 6

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550