Surname Armytage - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Armytage: What does the surname Armytage mean?
Armytage is a surname of English and German origin. It is believed to be derived from a place name with two separate sources.
In England, the name is believed to come from a place called Ermetege, which was an Old English term meaning “the enclosure of Eormen” (Old English for “eagle”). This place may have been where a family with this name once lived.
The second source is German. Here, the term “Armeitäge” is used and was generally applied to people of noble births. “Arme” roughly translates to “joint” or “shared” and “Täge” means “assembly” or “court”.
The earliest recorded records of anyone with this surname dates from 1273, in Yorkshire, England. This records a de Mata de Armitegage. Although this is one of the earliest references of the name in history, it is clear that bearers of the name would have already existed long before this.
The name is still commonplace today, with over ten thousand people having the last name Armytage, mainly living in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Overall, the last name Armytage is believed to be derived from English and German place names, with the English meaning believed to be “the enclosure of the eagle” and the German meaning “shared assembly”. As the name is still in use today, it is clear the name has stood the test of time.
Order DNA origin analysisArmytage: Where does the name Armytage come from?
The last name Armytage is most commonly found in the UK and Australia. In the UK, Armytage remains a fairly popular surname, especially in the West Midlands, where it is the 215th most common of all British surnames. The Armytage name can also be found across the world, with a prevalence in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and South Africa.
In Australia, Armytage is a fairly widespread surname, being the 387th most common name in the country. In terms of regional density, Armytage is especially prominent in Victoria, particularly in Melboune's western suburbs, where it is the 87 most common surname. It is also found in substantial numbers in other states, such as New South Wales, where it ranks at the 401st most common name.
The origins of the name Armytage date back to Norman times, with links to the Old French language. In those days, the phrase armes tage would be used to describe a military lookout or sentry. As such, the Armytage surname is often taken as a reference to soldiers who were placed on watch duty during the Norman Conquest of the British Isles.
Overall, the Armytage surname remains popular in many English-speaking countries around the world, most notably in its region of origin in the UK and in Australia.
Variations of the surname Armytage
The Armytage surname has many variants and spelling variations, as well as other surnames of similar origin. Armytage is derived from the Old English word for aeteg, which means ‘a pointed hill’. This surname is commonly found spelled as Armistage, Armitage, Aremitage, Armytage, Arundell, Arragage, Armagge, Armige, Armetage, Ayrmige and others.
The variations to Armytage tend to be regional in origin, with various dialects being spoken across the UK and beyond, giving rise to slight spelling changes over time. For example, the Armistage version is more commonly used in Yorkshire, whilst the Arundell variation is much more commonly seen in Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire.
The surname Armytage is linked to a number of other surnames in the UK, such as Armiger, Armistage and Arms. Armiger comes from the Latin armiger which means ‘armed’ or ‘armoured’. Armistage is derived from the Old English words for armour and siege. Meanwhile, Arms is probably derived from the Middle English word arme, which translates to ‘weapon’ or ‘armour’.
It is likely that the Armytage surname is connected to these other surnames due to the collective shared meaning of the words, as most of them collectively refer to armed individuals. Thus, it’s likely that someone with the Armytage surname could have an ancestral past that involved the military, or arms-related activities.
Famous people with the name Armytage
- Richard Armytage: Former UK-based art director, edited or conceived multiple magazine covers such as the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine, Red, GQ and The Sunday Times.
- Roger Armytage: Retired Australian newsreader, formerly for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Channel Seven.
- Morilla Armytage-Smith: Author, wrote the novel A Garden Unexpected, published in 2011.
- Caroline Armytage: Fitness instructor and protagonist of the 2005 film Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
- Abigail Armytage: Actress, most recently ventured into the movie Tomorrowland.
- Elliott Dowling Armytage: Amateur art dealer concerning Asian artwork, spoke at the India Council for Cultural Relations on their art.
- Fredrick Armytage: Anti-slavery and temperance activist in the 19th Century. Founded the “Uganda Patriot”, newspaper to advertise campaigns against slavery.
- Arthur Bladen Armytage: Commander in the Royal Navy during WWI, wounded in action during a battle in the Mediterranean Sea.
- Cressida Armytage: Singer in the London Symphony Orchestra for two years.
- Francis Augustus Armytage: Officer in the British Military, elected mayor of the city of Kingston-Upon-Hull.