| ![Show Contents]() Wyss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Wyss. The Wyss family lived in Stirling. Early Origins of the Wyss familyThe surname Wyss was first found in Stirlingshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. William Wishart had a grant of the mill from the Abbey of Cambus Kenneth in the year 1200, and was associated with lands at Conon and Tulloch in 1254. Another William Wishart was a monk at St. Andrews in 1250. The family also held the lands of Kenny Murchardyn in 1279. Sir John Wishart rendered homage in 1296 to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland. 1 "Andrew Wycchard (Wyschard or Wychard) of Scotland, a prisoner of war in Hereford Castle, 1305-07. George Wischart was burned for heresy at St. Andrews, 1545/6, and a later George Wischart was first bishop of Edinburgh after the Restoration and private chaplain and biographer of the marquess of Montrose." 1 "The family are of ancient date in Forfarshire, and are descended from Robert, a natural son of David, Earl of Huntingdon, who having gone on a crusade to the Holy Land, was called Guishart, on account of the slaughter he made of the Saracens. Adam Wishart of Logie, was living in 1272." 2 "Some ancient writers say, that Robert, son of David, Earl of Huntingdon, took on him the cross, and distinguished himself in the Holy Land, where, from his gallant exploits against the Saracens, he received the name of Guis-hart, that is, Wise-heart, now Wishart." 3 Robert Wishart (d. 1316), was Bishop of Glasgow and belonged to the family of Wishart or Wiseheart of Pittarrow, Forfarshire, and was either nephew or cousin of William Wishart, bishop of St. Andrews and chancellor of Scotland. 4 Much further to the south in England, and much earlier Wigheard, Wighard, or Vighard (d. 664), was Archbishop-elect of Canterbury, a Kentish priest and one of Deusdedit's clergy. "He was nominated to the archbishopric with the assent of the English church by the kings Oswy and Egbert, and was sent, bearing gold and silver vessels, to Rome for consecration. He died of the plague in Rome in 664, before his consecration. " 4 In Bedfordshire, Wishardus Leidt was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1176 and about the same time, Walter Wiscard, Wishard was found in the Pipe Rolls for Surrey in 1162 and 1169. Rannulf Wichard was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Essex in 1212. 5 Early History of the Wyss familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wyss research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1513, 1538, 1546, 1576, 1592, 1593, 1596, 1597, 1599, 1629, 1649 and 1671 are included under the topic Early Wyss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wyss Spelling VariationsThe variation in the spelling of Medieval names is a result of the lack of spelling rules in the English language prior to the last few hundred years. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound, often varying the spelling of name within a single document. Wyss has appeared as Wishart, Wishard, Wychart, Wisehart, Wisheart, Wiseheart and many more. Early Notables of the Wyss familyNotable amongst the family at this time was George Wishart (c.1513-1546) famous reformer and martyr. In 1538, while a schoolmaster at a grammar school in Montrose, he incurred a charge of heresy for teaching the Greek New Testament. After spending some time on the continent, he was sent back to Scotland by Henry VIII to negotiate a marriage contract between Prince Edward and Mary, Queen of Scots. In 1546 he was again arrested and burned at St. Andrews. He was the first to inspire John Knox. 4Sir John Wishart (d. 1576)...
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wyss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wyss RankingIn the United States, the name Wyss is the 13,602nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6  Migration of the Wyss family to Ireland
Some of the Wyss family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Wyss migration to the United States | + |
As the persecution of Clan families continued, they sailed for North America in increasing numbers. In most cases, they found the freedom and opportunity they sought. Land was often available and the American War of Independence allowed Scots an opportunity to solidify their independence from the English crown. These settlers and their ancestors went on to play essential roles in the forging of the nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:
Wyss Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Felix Wyss, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 7
- Hans Wyss, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 7
| Wyss migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Wyss Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Rodolphe Wyss, who arrived in Red River, Canada in 1821
| Contemporary Notables of the name Wyss (post 1700) | + |
- Thomas Wyss (b. 1943), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 2004, 2008 8
- Johann Rudolf Wyss (1781-1830), Swiss writer
- Esther Wyss Burridge, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1949 9
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Wyss migration to the United States 
Wyss migration to Canada 
Germany
Scotland
Ireland
England
