| ![Show Contents]() Athas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of AthasWhat does the name Athas mean? The distinguished surname Athas is Ango-Saxon in origin. It is derived from the Old English "gehaeg", meaning "dweller at the enclosure" and was most likely originally borne by someone living within an enclosure. 1 Most sources agree on this origin, but one differs: "This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Adam,' from the colloquial Addy. This was sharpened into Atty." 2 Early Origins of the Athas familyThe surname Athas was first found in Cambridgeshire, where Lecia Ateheye was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. 1 While this is the first entry in early rolls, another source notes that Gerard de Atie, and Engelard, his nephew, were chief supporters of King John who reigned between from 1199 to 1216. 3 Early History of the Athas familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Athas research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1379, 1388 and 1568 are included under the topic Early Athas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Athas Spelling VariationsSound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Athas family name include Athy, Athey, Atha, Atty, Attey and others. Early Notables of the Athas familyMore information is included under the topic Early Athas Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Athas family to IrelandSome of the Athas family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Athas familyFor political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Athas surname or a spelling variation of the name include: George Athy, who immigrated to Maryland in 1674; Mary Athy, who settled in Virginia in 1689; William Athey, who settled in Virginia in 1732; and John and Thomas C. Athy, who were naturalized in Indiana around 1856..
| Contemporary Notables of the name Athas (post 1700) | + |
- Louis P. Athas, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1972 4
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Duci et non trahi
Motto Translation: To be led and not dragged.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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