My mother-in-law's maiden name was Batt.

Batt as a family name has apparently 3 different possible origins: from the medieval personal name Batte (meaning son of Batt, itself derived from Bartholomew; from the Old English bata meaning stout person; or from the Old English bata meaning rich pasture.

Batts were most common in the south-west of England in 1881, with another hotspot in the west of London (Southall district). Susan's Batts were based in the East End of London, and there is an earlier generation from Hampshire on my side of the family but I have not connected the two yet.

The earliest of the London Batts (that I can trace), Benjamin, was a watch gilder, as were four of his sons. Watch and jewelry making, goldsmithing and other metal trades were common occupations in their part of London (Clerkenwell) in the 19th century. Later Batt males were also metal workers (brass finishers). The Batts married into a German immigrant family, the Julius  (William Julius was a  journeyman baker ) - two Batt brothers married two Julius sisters, a pattern repeated in a later generation with a brother and sister Batt marrying another brother and sister in the Riley family.

St James, Clerkenwell1

1    John Barrett