Lewthwaite History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Lewthwaite first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in Lewthwaite, a village in Cumberland. The place-name Lewthwaite is derived from the Old English words hlæw, which meant "burial mound," and thwaite, which meant "cleared land, pasture land." The name as a whole meant "burial mounds in the fields." The family name is derived from the name of the village.

Early Origins of the Lewthwaite family

The surname Lewthwaite was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Lewthwaite family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lewthwaite research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lewthwaite History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lewthwaite Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Lewthwaite has appeared include Lewthwaite, Laithwaite, Lawthwaite and others.

Early Notables of the Lewthwaite family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

James Lewthwaite of Broadgate

Lewthwaite migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Lewthwaite arrived in North America very early:

Lewthwaite Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Lewthwaite, who settled in Virginia in 1775

Lewthwaite migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Lewthwaite Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Lewthwaite, aged 28, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Blundell"

Lewthwaite migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Lewthwaite Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Lewthwaite, who landed in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Amelia Thompson

Contemporary Notables of the name Lewthwaite (post 1700) +

Jimmy Lewthwaite (1920-2006), English rugby league player who played in the 1940s through the 1950s
Paul Lewthwaite (b. 1969), Manx sculptor from Douglas, Isle of Man
Sir David Rainald Lewthwaite (1940-2004), 5th Baronet of Thwaites, Cumberland, British peer
Sir Rainald Gilfrid Lewthwaite (1913-2003), 4th Baronet of Thwaites, Cumberland, British peer
Sir William Anthony Lewthwaite (1912-1993), 3rd Baronet of Thwaites, Cumberland, British peer
Sir William Lewthwaite (1882-1933), 2nd Baronet of Thwaites, Cumberland, British peer
Sir William Lewthwaite (1853-1927), 1st Baronet of Thwaites, Cumberland, British peer, Chairman of the Conservative Association of the Egremont Division of Cumberland
John Lewthwaite (1816-1892), New Zealand politician, Member of Parliament for Grey and Bell (1856-1858)
William John Lewthwaite, British film editor, known for his work on Your Past Is Showing (1957), 1984 (1956), and Half a Sixpence (1967)
Sir William Lewthwaite, British Supreme Court Lawyer
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Lewthwaite Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Tendens ad aethera virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue aspirng toward heaven.