The Bundy Family of Indiana

The Hatch family has lived for at least six centuries in the county of Kent in England. The family name is derived from the anglo-Saxon noun "haec", Middle English "hacche", later "hatch", meaning a gate or wicket. Compare Shakespear's words: "In at the window, or else o'er the hatch." The surname appears in the hundred of CaleHill, county Kent, as early as 1327/8, the form during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries being "atte Hacche". The name was originally assumed by a man who dwelt near or at some gate or wicket, such, for instance, as might have been found at the entrance to the village churchyard or to the grounds of the manor house. Many family names had similar origin during the reign of Edward I (1272-1307). For example, John at the hacche or at ye hacche is termed "John atte Hacche." William at the well is called "William atte Well," and Thomas at the stile is termed "Thomas atte Stile," etc. This form of name remained in use for about two centuries, until nearly 1500, and then, as a rule, the "atte" either was dropped or was combined with the following word in such names as Atwell and Atwood.