Louvat History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Louvat name is derived from the Anglo-Norman French word “louvet,” meaning a “wolf cub.” It is thought to have originally been a nickname which came to be a surname.

Early Origins of the Louvat family

The surname Louvat was first found in Berkshire, where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of lands held by the great Norman Baron William Louvet who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086 who was also granted lands in Bedford, Northampton, Worcester and Leicester.

Early History of the Louvat family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Louvat research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1125 and 1172 are included under the topic Early Louvat History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.