Batscum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Batscum family

The surname Batscum was first found in Dorset at Batcombe, a parish, in the union of Cerne, hundred of Yetminster or at Batcombe, a parish, in the union of Shepton-Mallet, hundred of Whitestone, E. division of Somerset. 1

Of the two parishes the oldest seems to be in Somerset as this parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was recorded as Batecumbe. 2 Known as Batancumbae in the 10th century, it was derived from the Old English personal name + "cumb" and literally meant "valley of a man called Bata." 3

Somerset was the home of the first entry in ancient rolls, that of John Batecumbe in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. 4

Early History of the Batscum family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Batscum research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1451, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1539, 1541 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Batscum History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Batscum Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Batscum are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Batscum include: Batscomb, Battiscombe, Batiscombe, Battiscomb, Batiscomb, Battiscumb, Battiscumbe, Batiscumbe, Batiscumb, Batscum, Batscumb, Bettiscomb, Betiscomb, Bettiscombe, Betscomb, Betscombe, Bettescombe and many more.

Early Notables of the Batscum family

More information is included under the topic Early Batscum Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Batscum family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Batscum or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)