This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the battle'; Middle English bataillt, i.e. battalion, guard, army, camp. 'Batalle,' an army. "Than thir twa batelles mett"' (Halliwell).

Richard de la Batayle, Berkshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Adam de la Batayle, Norfolk, ibid.

Saer Batayle, Essex, ibid.

Philip de la Batayle, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Richard de la Batayl, Gloucestershire, 1289: Household Exp., Bishop Swinlleld (Cam. Soc).

1650. Baptised — John, son of John Battell: St. James, Clerkenwell.

The Battles or Batailles probably came from Umfreville, in the canton of St. Mere Eglise, arrondissement of Valognes, department of Manche. Their ancestor was a companion of Robert-cum-Barba, a kinsman of William the Conqueror. Several individuals of this name appear as witnesses in charters by the de Umphravilles in favor of the Abbey of Kelso. Henry Batail witnessed a confirmation by Richard de Vnframuille to Kelso c. 1220 (Kelso, 327), and c. 1228 Walter Bataill attested charters by Gilbert de Umfrauille in favor of the same abbey (ibid., 325,326). Walter Bataile and Henry his son witnessed a charter by William de Umfrauill, c. 1250, and Peter Bataile witnessed a charter of resignation by Roger the rector of the church of Ellesdene in 1228 (ibid., 329,330). William Bataile witnessed a gift of land to the Hospital of Soltre between 1250—66 (Soltre, p. 32) Thomas dictus Batail, son of quondam William Batail, burgess of Berwick, sold his lands in Waldefgate to the Abbey of Kelso c. 1266 (Kelso, 47, 48). Johannes de Batalia witnessed a charter by Richard de Laycestria to the Abbey of Inchaffray in 1240 (Inchaffray, p. 62), and as Johannes de Labatil he attests another charter by William filius Hawok, c. 1245 (ibid., p. 63). As Johannes de la Batayle he witnessed a grant of a cellar in Perth to the Abbey of Lundors (LAC., p. 74), and as Johannes de Bello and de la Batail he appears as witness in Scone charters of the same period (Scon, p. 57, 61,126). Thomas Bataile rendered homage at Berwick, 1291. (RR).

Though Battle or Battell-Old French de la Bataille-is a well known name in England, Irish families called Battle, who belong exclusively to Co. Sligo and the adjacent parts of the neighbouring counties, are of an indigenous Irish sept. Up to the seventeenth century their name, Mac Concatha in Irish, was anglicized phonetically MacEncaha. This form was still used in l662; the Co. Sligo hearth money rolls of that date list several families so called, but Battle does not appear. A still earlier anglicized form, closer to the original Gaelic, was Mac Conchaa which occurs in 1585 list of Co. Sligo “pardons”; Co. Sligo records of the next decade call them MacEncahe.

*This figure is surprisingly low having regard to the fact, revealed by Griffith's Valuation of 1851-3, that there were as many as 46 householders or landholders of the name in Co. Cork at that time.

1 a weak form of Bartle, q.v.

2 Bel. to a Battalion or Guard. [Middle English Old French bataille, &c., a battle, a bat­talion; Low Latin batalia] Adam de la Batayle.—Hundred Rolls 3 Bel. to Battle (Sussex). [Same etym­ology as 2]

Mac Concatha An indigenous Irish sept belonging to Co. Sligo, formerly anglicized MacEncaha.

The form Concagh is extant in Co. Galway. SIF 14

(English) One who came from Battle (named after the battle of Hastings), in England; descendant of Bartle, a pet form of Bartholomew (son of Talmai, furrow).

Battel, a town in Sussex, so named from the battle, commonly called, of Hastings. The surname is latinized De Bello.

A location name in South Wales, Sussex. Or from the French, Battaille; a personal name.