Show ContentsWeightman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The bearers of Weightman and its variants are generally thought to have come from the noble family of Le Blancs in Normandy, who traveled to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest. Although the name certainly came to Britain from Normandy, there is some speculation that it already existed in Britain prior to the conquest. The word "white" itself is derived from the Old English word "hwit." This name was most likely originally used as a nickname for a person with white hair or a pale complexion.

Early Origins of the Weightman family

The surname Weightman was first found in Durham, but we must look to South Warnborough in Southampton for one of the most interesting stories about the family. "The church is very ancient, with a fine Norman arch at the entrance; in the chancel is a curious monument to Sir Thomas White and his family. Tradition says that Queen Elizabeth, when residing at Odiham, rode over to the manor-house here, and after partaking of breakfast with the above-mentioned Thomas White, knighted him in his own saloon." [1]

Early History of the Weightman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Weightman research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1106, 1172, 1236, 1327, 1560, 1579, 1585, 1593, 1620, 1628, 1630, 1656, 1657, 1676, 1685, 1686, 1690, 1698, 1704 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Weightman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Weightman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: White, Whyte, Wight and others.

Early Notables of the Weightman family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John White (c.1585), an English painter and cartographer who was sent to Roanoke Island (now in North Carolina) as artist, mapmaker, and later as governor; Andrew White (1579-1656), a Jesuit theology professor who went to Maryland as the head of a band of missionaries; Thomas White (1593-1676), an English Roman Catholic priest and scholar, known as a theologian, censured by the Inquisition; Thomas...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Weightman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Weightman family to Ireland

Some of the Weightman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 114 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Weightman migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Weightman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Weightman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 [2]
Weightman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Weightman, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 [2]
  • Thomas Weightman, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 [2]
  • Stephen Weightman, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1888 [2]

New Zealand Weightman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Weightman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Alexander Weightman, aged 23, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
  • Mr. Joseph Weightman, (b. 1845), aged 20, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Eastern Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 4th January 1865 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Weightman (post 1700) +

  • Roger Chew Weightman (1787-1876), American politician, civic leader, and printer, 8th Mayor of Washington, D.C. (1824 to 1827)
  • William Weightman (1813-1904), English-born, American chemical manufacturer, one of the largest landowners in the United States
  • Major General George W. Weightman, U.S. Army Family Medicine physician, recipient of Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (4), Bronze Star (2), Meritorious Service Medal (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Army Commendation Medal (4)
  • William Weightman, American politician, Representative from New Jersey 5th District, 1998 [4]
  • Richard Hanson Weightman (1816-1861), American politician, Delegate to U.S. Congress from New Mexico Territory, 1851 [4]
  • Ray Weightman (b. 1898), American Republican politician, Holt County Prosecuting Attorney, 1925-29; Circuit Judge in Missouri 4th Circuit, 1947-55 [4]
  • Gavin Weightman (1945-2022), British journalist and historian; he produced and directed The Making of Modern London (1815–1914), The River Thames, Bright Lights Big City, Brave New Wilderness, and City Safari, among other series
  • William Weightman (1814-1842), English curate from the University of Durham, love interest of Anne Bronté; he died of cholera at the age of 28, whereupon Anne wrote in he poem "I will not mourn thee, lovely one"
  • Lisa Jane Weightman (b. 1979), Australian two-time bronze medalist long distance runner
  • Laura Weightman (b. 1991), British silver and two-time bronze medalist middle-distance runner
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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