Show ContentsWalshincham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Today's generation of the Walshincham family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Walshincham family lived in Norfolk, at Little Walsingham or Great Walsingham. "This place, which is also called Old Walsingham, was formerly of considerable importance. " 1 Regarding Little Walsingham, "this place, sometimes denominated New Walsingham, was of great celebrity, for many centuries, as possessing a shrine of the Virgin, or Our Lady of Walsingham, founded in 1061 by the widow of Ricoldie Faverches, whose son, Sir Galfridus, confirmed her endowment, and established a monastery for Augustine canons." 1

Early Origins of the Walshincham family

The surname Walshincham was first found in Norfolk at Walsingham where the first of this name was a chronicler of Normandy and of Norman nobility, William of Walthingham, who appears in connection with the church of Pictariville in Normandy about the year 990. Another family seat was found at Barnes in Surrey. "Elizabeth granted the manorhouse to Sir Francis Walsingham, who, in 1589, entertained that sovereign and her court here." 1

One of the first records of the family was John Walsingham or Walsingam (d. 1340?), the English theologian, said to have been educated at the house of the Carmelites or White Friars at Burnham, Norfolk. Later, Thomas Walsingham (d. 1422) was a monk and historian, believed to have been a native of Norfolk. 2

Early History of the Walshincham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Walshincham research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1462, 1490, 1532, 1540, 1550, 1561, 1573, 1590, 1614, 1621, 1630, 1640, 1668 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Walshincham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Walshincham Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Walshincham include Walthingham, Walthinghame, Walsingham, Walsinghame, Walsinham, Walsincham and many more.

Early Notables of the Walshincham family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Edmund Walsingham (1490?-1550), lieutenant of the Tower of London, was elder son of James Walsingham (1462-1540); Sir Francis Walsingham (c. 1532-1590), principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I of England from 1573 until his death, popularly remembered as her "spymaster"; Sir Thomas Walsingham (c. 1561-1630), courtier to Queen Elizabeth I and literary patron to Thomas Watson, Thomas Nashe, George Chapman and Christopher Marlowe; Sir Thomas Walsingham (died 1669), an...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Walshincham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Walshincham family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Walshinchams to arrive on North American shores: Thomas Walsingham who settled in Virginia in 1610; ten years before the "Mayflower"; Mr. Walsingham arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1850.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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