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From www.HouseOfNames.com Archives copyright © 2000 - 2010

Origins Available: English-Alt, English, Irish, Scottish

Where did the Scottish White family come from? What is the Scottish coat of arms/family crest? When did the White family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

From the historical and enchanting region of Scotland emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished White family. Originally, the Scottish people were known only by a single name. Scottish surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Often they adopted names that were derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The name White is a nickname type of surname for a pale or fair haired person. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word "hwit," meaning "white."

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

First found in Coldingham, a village in Berwickshire, where "Uuiaett Hwite" witnessed King Eadgar's charter of Coldingham, sometime between the years 1097 and 1107. It appears the name may have actually predated the Norman invasion as Old English personal names such as "Huita, Huuita, Hwita" are known to have predated 1066. One Old English charter dated before 925 (the Cartularium Saxonica), there is a "Wulfnoo hwita" listed. Whyte was also used as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic MacGhillebhain. By the mid 12th century, however, most of the bearers of this name in Scotland were of Norman descent. They held a family seat from very early times.

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More about the White History...

Please remember that this page is only a small extract of our complete history that includes:





  • Ancient origin of the name (usually pre-1100)
  • Known spelling variations
  • Early movement of the family name during the Middle Ages
  • Noteworthy bearers from the 1500-1600s
  • First settlers to North America
  • Notable contemporary bearers of the name
  • A description and/or full color picture of the Coat of Arms, Crest, and Motto (where available)

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: William White and his wife Susannah, who immigrated to Plymouth in 1620 with their sons Resolve and Peregrine (who was born in Cape Cod Harbour on board the Mayflower in 1620.

Motto Translated: Acquired by work.

For more information on the last name White, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.


Suggested Readings for the name White
  • The Ancestors of Daniel White, 1777-1836 and His Wife, Sarah Ford by Paula Porter Griffin.
  • Ancestral Chronological Record of the William White Family, from 1607-8 to 1895 By Thomas and Samuel Whit.
  • Family Ties of Roy Harold Murray: Ancestors and Descendants of the Murray, White, Waybright Families by Miriam Adams Cloud Murray.

Some noteworthy people of the name White
  • Jaleel White (b. 1976), television actor best known for his role as Steven Urkel on the show "Family Matters"
  • Edward Higgins White II (1930-1967), American astronaut on the Apollo 1 capsule
  • Rod White (b. 1977), American archer who co-won a Gold Medal at the 1996 Olympic Games
  • Canvass White (1790-1834), American civil engineer
  • Elwyn Brooks White (1899-1985), American essayist/children's novelist awarded a special citation in 1978 by the Pulitzer Prize board
  • Leslie Alvin White (1900-1975), American cultural anthropologist
  • Minor White (1908-1976), American photographer and editor
  • Paul Dudley White (1886-1973), American cardiologist
  • Pearl Fay White (1892-1938), American cinema actress
  • Richard Grant White (1821-1885), American Shakespearean scholar
  • William Allen White (1868-1944), American editor and writer
  • Joseph B. White, American reporter who co-won (with Paul Ingrassia) the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting
  • Theodore Harold White (1915-1986), American political journalist, historian, and novelist awarded the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
  • Kenneth White (b. 1936), Scottish poet
  • Field Marshal Sir George Stuart White VC, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GCVO (1835-1912), British Army officer awarded the Victoria Cross
  • James White, Dublin art critic and director of the national gallery of Ireland (1964-80)
  • Patrick White (1912-1990), Australian novelist, awarded the 1973 Nobel Prize in Literature
  • Henry Kirk White (1785-1806), English poet
  • Terence Hanbury White (1906-1964), English novelist
  • William Hale White (1831-1913), English writer
  • Newman Ivey White (1892-1948), a professor of English at Duke University


Tell Me More About Family Crests


Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist


We have researched the White family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline


Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements


In the White coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate


We encourage you to study the White genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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White Family Crest Products


Anniversary products for the name White.
Apparel revealing the family crest for the surname White.
Armorial histories for the name White.
Ceramics proudly displaying the White family crest.
Coat of Arms for the name White.
Downloads displaying the family crest for the name White.
Family Crest for the name White.
Family Tree emphasing the White family crest.
Hand Painted Plaques emphasing the White family crest.
Keychains proudly displaying the White coat of arms.
Mouse pads revealing the White family crest.
New Products proudly displaying the White coat of arms.
Packages with the coat of arms for the name White.
Plaques and Frames proudly displaying the White family crest.
Surname Histories for the name White.
Symbolism revealing the family crest for the surname White.
Travel Mugs for the White family crest.
Popular Products
Armorial History With Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms & Surname History Package
Family Crest Image (jpg) Heritage Series - 300 DPI
Key-chain
Coffee Mug
Armorial History with Frame
Framed Surname History and Coat of Arms
 

The White Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The White Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

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