Killwitch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Killwitch belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in Kilnwick or Kilnwick Percy in the East Riding of Yorkshire. They are now found in Humberside, a new county formed after the reorganization of local government in England in 1974. The place-name is based on the Old English personal name Cylla, and means "farm of a man named Cylla." 1 Kilnwick was recorded as Chileuuit 2 in the Domesday Book in 1086, and as Killingwic in the 12th century. Kilnwick Percy was named Chelingewic in 1086, as is recorded in the Domesday Book. The surname means "of Kilnwick."

Early Origins of the Killwitch family

The surname Killwitch was first found in Yorkshire at Kilnwick (or Kilnwick-on-the-Wolds), a village and parish in the Yorkshire Wolds. "Many provincial dialects drop the final N of Kiln; and the W in the termination, as in War(w)ick, Nor(w)ich." 3

Early History of the Killwitch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Killwitch research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Killwitch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Killwitch Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Killwitch include Killick, Killwick, Killik, Killicke and others.

Early Notables of the Killwitch family

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

Migration of the Killwitch family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Killwitch were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: James Killicke settled in Virginia in 1648.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.