Show ContentsWisham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wisham family

The surname Wisham was first found in Herefordshire 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 13th century when they held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Wisham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wisham research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1140, 1159, 1350, 1442, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1545 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Wisham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wisham Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Wisham have been found, including Wysham, Wisham, Wyshem, Wishem and others.

Early Notables of the Wisham family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Wisham family of Herefordshire


United States Wisham migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Wisham surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Wisham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Simon Wisham, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 [1]
  • Conrad Wisham, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1770 [1]

Contemporary Notables of the name Wisham (post 1700) +

  • Samuel Wisham, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 7th District, 1928 [2]
  • Mary E. Wisham, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Louisiana, 1996; Presidential Elector for Louisiana, 1996 [2]


  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. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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