History of the Adamthwaites

The next instance of an Adamthwaite is found in 'A Biographical Register of University of Oxford to AD1500' where we find a record of the ordination of Roland Adamthwayte as priest at New College Chapel on 28 Feb 1461 [Reg. Waynflete, Win., 1 pt ii]

Several mentions of the original group of farms at Adamthwaite have been found in manorial documents dating back to the mid 1500s, but the present building was rebuilt by Thomas Adamthwaite in 1684.

Origins of the Adamthwaite surname
The meaning of the name: ‘Thwaite’ - A variety of opinions as to the meaning of this termination has been entertained. In Eng Surn. 1 it was defined, upon the authority of an intelligent correspondent, as “land reclaimed from a wood or forest”, while “a rough marshy ground”, and “a pasture” were also suggested.

According to Verstegen, the pluralized version, Thwaytes, signifies “a feller of wood.” A correspondent of the Gentleman’s Magazine, August 1856 makes it “a set of farm buildings”. I think the origin of the word must be looked for in the Anglo-Saxon word thweotan to cut down and that it means an open space cleared in a field. I find this opinion supported by Halliwell – “land which was once covered with wood, brought into pasture or tillage”. It is therefore, nearly or quite synonymous with Royd. The prefix seems sometimes to refer to the name of the settler who effected the clearing, as in Adamthwaite, Simonthwaite, Godderthwaite, sometimes to the trees etc. cleared as in Thornthwaite, Linethwaite, Hawthornthwaite, Brackenthwaite, and sometimes to less intelligible causes. The termination prevails in the counties of Cumberland , Westmorland and North Lancashire . From the notebook of EA – name of author not recorded

Variants
Nowadays, there are no true variants of the surname, but in past times there were many variations. The earliest occurrences of the name appear as Adamthwayt, Adamtwyat and Adamthwat, later becoming Adamthwait. The current form is usually Adamthwaite (occasionally Adamsthwaite). However, the variety of mistranscriptions, particularly on on-line censuses, is amazing – Idamthwate, Adamthavale, Adamshwaste, Adam Hinote, Adamthvisete, Adamtunriz, Adanthwill, Adamthoah, Dolamothwaite, Adamttimould, Adam Schwarte, and my personal favourite Shdamthawa. I am assured that the correct pronunciation (in and around Ravenstonedale at least) is Adamth’t. [HINT: if you are searching records, the best way of picking up most mistranscriptions is to enter adamt* as your search term]

The links to the right will take you to other parts of this website where you can discover more about the history of the Adamthwaites, and Adamthwaite Farm.