The name Chat is rooted in the ancient Norman culture that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was a name for someone who was a person who has a fancied resemblance to a cat. The name stems from the Old Northern French cat, of the same meaning, which occurs in many languages in the same form from a very early period.
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Early Origins of the Chat family
The surname Chat was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
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Early History of the Chat family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chat research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chat History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Chat Spelling Variations
Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Catt, Cat, Catts, Ketts, Chatt, Chat and others.
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Early Notables of the Chat family
More information is included under the topic Early Chat Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Chat family
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Chat or a variant listed above: John Catt who settled in Maryland in 1775; Richard Catt settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774; Richard Cate settled in Nevis in 1654.
