The surname was recorded in BERKSHIRE where the Boots had been granted manor and lands by Duke William of Normandy after the Norman Conquest for their assistance at the Battleof Hastings in 1066. 

Surname variations include:  Bootes, Boote, Rootes, and Roots.   The surname was found in the English counties of Sussex and Kent.

The next reference to the Bootes surname comes with Richard Bootes born circa 1585.
 

FIRST GENERATION

Richard Bootes

born circa 1585. He married ......... (name unknown)
children:  JamesBootes born circa 1608

SECOND GENERATION

James Boots

Christened at Etchingham, Sussex on May 1 1608.  He married Anne Wenham in Burwash, Sussex on27 October 1634.  His body was interred on October 1665 in Burwash,Sussex.

children:  James  Bootsborn 1645
 

THIRD GENERATION

James Boots married Susanna.  He was christened in Burwash, Sussex.

Children:  James  born circa 1699
 

FOURTH GENERATION

James Boots born circa1699 was baptised in Burwash, Sussex on 21 May 1699.  He married
Anne Collins in Bodiam,Sussex on 26 December 1721.  Anne was born circa 1693.  She was baptised in Bodiam.

children:  James  born circa 1774

FIFTH GENERATION

James Boots born circa 1774 was baptised in Bodiam, Sussex on 2 Feb 1725.  He married Mary Ranger in Northiam, Sussex on 25 December 1753.

children:  William Boots
 

SIXTH GENERATION

William Boots was borncirca 1760.  He married Mary  ..........  1784.

Children:  Thomas

SEVENTH GENERATION

Thomas Boots was bornin Newenden, Kent 25 January 1795.  He married Mary Standen in HighHaldon, Kent on 25 February 1822.  They emigrated to South Australiaon 27 September 1839.   They arrived in South Australia aboardthe Lady Lilford.  Thomas died on 22 May 1873 in Willaston aged 78and Mary died 17 December1866 in Willaston at age 71.

Thomas and Mary's Children

According to Bob Bootes biography"A Solitary Man"  Thomas and Mary left England to pursue
'the good life' in SouthAustralia.  Advertisements of the period emphasised that here in SouthAustralia there were no convicts sent; and high expectations of land, work,that the economy was thriving and there was job opportunities for all newcomers; there was also the opportunity to escape the class barriers inEngland.

The Lady Lilford brought Thomas, Mary and their children to South Australia in 1839.

Children                BORN

James
Charles                 1822
Charlotte               1824
Thomas                 1828
William                  1830
Fredrick                1833
John                      1835
Mary                    1836
Humphrey            1840

Thomas and George were brickmakersand had made the bricks for St Annes at Marion.  Thischurch is the secondoldest church in South Australia.  Charles owned a brickyard in SouthAustralia.