Show ContentsWhiter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Whiter family

The surname Whiter was first found in Huntingdonshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1273 when Eustace and Thomas Whittowere held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Whiter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whiter research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Whiter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whiter Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Whittier, Whittyer, Whittear, Whityer, Whithear, Wittier, Wittyer, Wittyere, Wittyer, Whitear, Whittear, Whitehair, Withere, Wityere, Wityear, Whityear, Wittiere, Wityear, Wytyear and many more.

Early Notables of the Whiter family

More information is included under the topic Early Whiter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Whiter migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Whiter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Whiter, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 1
Whiter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Phebe Whiter, who landed in Virginia in 1714 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Whiter (post 1700) +

  • Walter Whiter (1758-1832), English philologist, born at Birmingham, Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge in 1782 2


The Whiter Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Esto fidelis
Motto Translation: Be Faithful.


  1. 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)
  2. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 Jan. 2019


Houseofnames.com on Facebook