I am a Hathaway but I dont know where to find my roots!?

Question

as you know the surname Hathaway is a very rare but a famous surname!

My name is Maisie Rose Hathaway, ive been doing some research and Ann Hathaway married William Shakespeare and there is an actor called Anne Hathaway.

There are many Hathaways in America, however apparently the name comes from a Welsh origin.

does anybody else know how the hathaway name came about?

are u a Hathaway?

Answer 1

try asking anne.

Answer 2

The solution regarding your roots is not in tracing the surname, but finding your own ancestors in valid records. No, it is not that hard.. but it IS critical to do it methodically.  You always start with yourself, and work back, to insure that your connections are accurate.

http://www.cyndislist.com/beginner.htm

Cyndis is one of my favorites, to especially show the wide variety of sources to use. Once you have worked back a ways, you might find you do have some connections to famous people.  The important thing is to not "jump" ahead and try to make the link, without building a solid foundation first.

Answer 3

As far as I know Hathaway is not a particularly Welsh name.

Surname: Hathaway

This famous surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and has two sources; firstly, it may be a topographical name for someone who lived by a path across a heath, from the Middle English "hath", a development of the Olde English pre 7th Century "haeth" meaning heath, plus the Middle English "way", from the Olde English "weg" way. Secondly, it may derive from the rare Olde English personal name "Heaethuwig", composed of the elements "heaethu" meaning strife, contention, plus "wig" war, which has Continental cognates such as the Germanic "Hedwig" from the Old High German "Haduwig". The surname dates back to the late 12th Century, (see below). Variations in the spelling of the surname include Hathway, and Hathaway. London Church Records list the christenings of Thomas, son of John Haddyway, at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on the 22nd March 1616, and of Katherine Hadaway at Allhallows London Wall, on the 7th April 1681. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is black, with a buglehorn garnished silver. The Crest is a red demi lion rampant, holding in the dexter paw a fleur-de-lis. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Hadewi, which was dated 1178, in the Pipe Rolls of Herefordshire, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as the Builder of Churches, 1154-1189.

Hathaway  

Last name origins & meanings:

topographic name for someone who lived by a path across a heath, from Middle English hathe ‘heath’ + weye ‘way’.

from an (apparently rare) Old English female personal name, Heaðuwīg, composed of the elements heaðu ‘strife’, ‘contention’ + wīg ‘war’.

Answer 4

no but think about it your hathaway there lol

Answer 5

The only roots that I can honestly tell you about are the ones that grow out after I dye my hair.

I wish I knew the answer , but I am the only ancestor ever born into this family. I came from a rock.

Answer 6

Tebs gave you a great breakdown on the origin of Hathaway.

Wendy gave you some good advice at tracing your roots.  Don't get too involved in a name.  Trace each ancestor back one generation at a time.  

Your surname is only a small part of you.  You have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents, 16 great great grandparents.  Add them all together and you have 30 people.  

The number of people in your direct ancestry pyramids.  If you can get back 10 generations, you can have over a thousand direct ancestors.  If you can get back 20 generations, you can have over a million direct ancestors.

I use the word "can."  As you go back you will probably find cousins of varying degrees that married.   Your 4xgreat grandfather in one family line might be your 7xgreat grandfather in another family line.

Also, let me warn you, be very careful with your name.  You put your full name.  That is not a good thing to do or to put the name of any living persons in a public forum like Yahoo Q & A.   It can help identity thieves.