Show ContentsWenne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wenne family

The surname Wenne was first found in Fife, where they held a family seat from very ancient times as Lords of the Castle of Wemyss, so named from the Gaelic word Uamch (a cave) derived from the lands and cliffs in which caves abound on the seashore.

Early History of the Wenne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wenne research. Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1251, 1286, 1484, 1579, 1596, 1605, 1608, 1609, 1610, 1617, 1625, 1636, 1649, 1657, 1659, 1669, 1672, 1678, 1679, 1682, 1705 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Wenne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wenne Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wemyss, Weems, Wemys, Wemes and others.

Early Notables of the Wenne family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was John Weemes (Weemse, Wemyss) (c.1579-1636), a minister at Church of Scotland, Hebrew scholar and exegete, educated at the University of St Andrews, appointed minister of Hutton, Berwickshire in 1608; John Wemyss (died 1649), the 1st Earl of Wemyss and Lord High Commissioner to the...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wenne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Wenne family to Ireland

Some of the Wenne family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Wenne migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wenne Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Hen Wenne, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 1


The Wenne 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: Je pense
Motto Translation: I Think.


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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