Show ContentsMusclewhyte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Musclewhyte was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Musclewhyte family lived in Yorkshire, at Micklethwaite, an area of Wetherby on the south bank of the River Wharfe. Micklethwaite is also a hamlet in Cumbria, north east of Wigton.

Early Origins of the Musclewhyte family

The surname Musclewhyte was first found in Yorkshire where they were conjecturally descended from the great Norman house of Buron, and was represented by Erneis de Buron, who held the lands of Micklethwaite or Muceltuit at the taking of the Domesday Book in the year 1086. The Micklewright variant was a nickname for "'the mickle wright,' i.e. the big wright." 1

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Adam de Mekkclhawayth; Magota Mekkelwayth; Johanna de Mickilwayte; and William de Mickilwayte as all living in Yorkshire and holding lands at that time.

Micklethwaite-Grange is a very small liberty in the Upper division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. And today, the town of Micklethwaite is a suburb of Bingley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "This place is one of the thirty-two lordships granted by the Conqueror to Erneis de Berun." 2

Early History of the Musclewhyte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Musclewhyte research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1612, 1680, 1682, 1718, 1727 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Musclewhyte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Musclewhyte Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Musclewhyte has been recorded under many different variations, including Muclewaite, Micklethwait, Micklethwayt, Micklethwaite, Muclethwait, Muclethwaite, Muclethwayte and many more.

Early Notables of the Musclewhyte family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Micklethwaite; Sir John Micklethwaite M.D. (1612-1682), an English physician, who attended Charles II, President of the Royal College of...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Musclewhyte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Musclewhyte family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Musclewhytes were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: W. Mucklethwait settled in Barbados in 1722.



The Musclewhyte 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: Favent numine
Motto Translation: By the favour of Providence.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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