Contents [hide]

Peet History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Sources

Peet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Peet

What does the name Peet mean?

The name Peet is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from person who was referred to as Peat. The surname Peet was originally derived from the Old English name "Peter." 1 2 Alternatively, the name could have been a nickname for a "delicate person, a pampered pet." 3 Another source presumes the name could have been "short for Peatman, a cutter of Peat." 4 And finally, one source believes the name could have been Norman in origin as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Rickard and Tustin Peet in Normandy 1198. 5

Early Origins of the Peet family

The surname Peet was first found in Winchester where Ralph Peet was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1210-1211. Later in Worcestershire, we found Richard Peet in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. 6

In Somerset, Richard de Peyt was recorded there 1 Edward III (in the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 7 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 includes an entry for John Pitte c. 1272. 5

Early History of the Peet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Peet research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1485, 1513, 1563, 1570, 1589, 1593, 1610, 1630, 1647, 1652, 1672 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Peet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peet Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Peet has been spelled many different ways, including Peat, Peate, Peart, Pert, Pett and others.

Early Notables of the Peet family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Peter Pett, (fl 1563), master-shipwright at Deptford. He was great-grandson of Thomas Pett of Skipton in Cumberland. "But Skipton is in Yorkshire, and, though some of his kin may have settled in the north, it is more probable that he belonged to the family of the name which early in the fifteenth century owned property at Pett in the parish of Stockbury in Kent. " 8 He was progenitor of the...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Peet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peet Ranking

In the United States, the name Peet is the 11,002^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 9

Peet migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Peets to arrive in North America:

Peet Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Peet, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1774 10

Peet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Peet, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1846 10
E. W. Peet, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
Ada Peet, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1894
Francis Peet, aged 24, who landed in America from Oswestry, in 1894

Peet Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Frank Peet, aged 4, who settled in America from Nunhead, in 1903
Geo. Jones Peet, aged 60, who settled in America, in 1907
Charles Peet, aged 38, who immigrated to America, in 1907
Cornelis Peet, aged 9, who landed in America from Ensdade, Holland, in 1907
Charles Peet, aged 9, who landed in America, in 1908
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peet migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Peet Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. David Peet U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1786 son of David Peet Sr. 11

Peet Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Chesley Peet, aged 27, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland in 1922
Cecil Peet, aged 25, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1924

Peet migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Peet Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Ann Peet, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. George Peet, English convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Belgravia" on 4th April 1866, arriving in Western Australia 13

Peet 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:

Peet Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Hastings Peet, (b. 1854), aged 21, Irish labourer from County Kerry travelling from London aboard the ship "Waimate" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1875 14
Miss Jane Peet, (b. 1851), aged 24, Irish servant from County Down travelling from London aboard the ship "Waimate" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1875 14
Miss Catherine Peet, (b. 1856), aged 19, Irish servant from County Down travelling from London aboard the ship "Waimate" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1875 14
Mr. Daniel Peet, (b. 1855), aged 20, Irish labourer from County Kerry travelling from London aboard the ship "Waimate" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1875 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Peet (post 1700) +

Charles Bostwick Peet (1837-1902), American clothier, co-founder of Rogers, Peet & Co based in New York City in 1874
Marguerite Munger "Margot" Peet (1903-1995), American painter; her family found over 430 of her paintings after her death
Amanda Peet (b. 1972), American Young Hollywood Award winning actress, known for her roles in 2012 (2009), Identity (2003) and A Lot Like Love (2005)
Wayne Peet (b. 1954), American jazz pianist and organist
Bill Peet (1915-2002), born William Bartlett Peed, an American children's book illustrator and a story writer for Disney Studios
Alfred Peet (1920-2007), Dutch-American entrepreneur and the founder of Peet's Coffee & Tea
Frank S. Peet, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Kent; Elected 1926 15
Frank H. Peet (1892-1964), American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Kent, 1939-40; Member of Connecticut State Senate 15
Edward L. Peet, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1972 15
E. G. Peet, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1908 15
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Peet family +

Vimy Ridge

James Peet (1896-1917), Canadian labourer, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge June 1917

The Peet Motto +

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: Ardens
Motto Translation: Fervent.

Sources +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. 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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/belgravia
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html