Show ContentsWitherow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Witherow family

The surname Witherow was first found in Cumberland (now called Cumbria) as Wetheral, a village and civil parish that dates back to c. 1100 when it was first listed as Wetherhala.

The place name literally means "nook of land where wether-sheep are kept," from the Old English words "wether" + "halh." [1] One of the first records of the name was found here with Richard de Wederhal who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland in 1332. William Wethereld, Wetherald, Wetherold was listed in Suffolk (1429-1433). [2]

Hugh de Wederhale was listed in Cumberland during the reign of Edward I., and Adam de Wederhal, horner was listed during the reign of Edward II., as a Freeman of York. [3]

Early History of the Witherow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Witherow research. Another 46 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1726, 1754, 1764, 1768, 1770, 1772, 1775, 1776, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1800, 1807, 1808, 1826, 1830, 1832, 1842, 1846 and 1875 are included under the topic Early Witherow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Witherow Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wetherall, Weatherall, Wetherell, Metherall and many more.

Early Notables of the Witherow family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Nathan Wetherell D.D. (1726-1808), English academic administrator at the University of Oxford. He was Dean of Hereford, Master of University College, Oxford (1764-1807) and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Witherow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Witherow family to Ireland

Some of the Witherow family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 169 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Witherow migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Witherow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James M Witherow, who landed in Minnesota in 1883 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Witherow (post 1700) +

  • Rev. Richard Witherow, American minister who has worked in prisons for 30 years, founder of Miracle Village, near Pahokee, Florida that serves as a home for registered sex offenders
  • Charles Witherow (1852-1948), American Major League Baseball baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals in 1875
  • William P. Witherow, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1944 [5]
  • William Witherow, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1900 [5]
  • Mrs. Lou Witherow, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1972 [5]
  • Peter Witherow (b. 1987), Irish Gaelic football player
  • John Witherow (b. 1952), South African-born, British journalist, editor of The Times (2013-)


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. 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)
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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