Hunter Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Hunter Family History

Hunter Family History

The Hunter ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Hunter include Hunte, Chaser, Hunt and Molehunt. This is an occupational name meaning 'the hunter' or 'chaser', from a person who hunted for a living. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Nicholas Hunter and Alice le Hunte, of Oxford, who were recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England, in the year 1273. A John le Hunter was one of the Jurors on an inquisition made on the lands of Kailzie, Scotland, in the year 1259. A Brutone le Chaceour, County Somerset, was recorded in 'Kirby's Quest' in the reign of Edward III and a Gilbert le Hunte was recorded in the 'Writs of Parliament', in the year 1302. In Ireland this name is usually of immigrant origin having been introduced into Ulster Province by settlers who arrived from England and Scotland, especially during the seventeenth century.The Hunter family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Hunter descendants.