Westhagh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Westhagh is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Devon. The name Westhagh is derived from the fact that the original bearer of the name came from the west. This rather general nickname could be an indication that the person moved from the west to where he received the name, or that he lived in the western portion of some area such as a county or parish. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Westhagh family

The surname Westhagh was first found in Devon, where the family "are remarkable, not so much for the antiquity of the family as for the early period at which they attained the honour of the peerage. Sir Thomas West is the first recorded ancestor; he died in the seventeenth of Edward II., [(during the seventeenth year of the reign of Edward II)] having married the heiress of Cantilupe, and thus became possessed of the lands in Devonshire, and at Smitterfield in Warwickshire." 4

Another reference states "the noble family (Earl Delawarr) ... wrote themselves De West; not it appears, from any place so called, but from their large possessions in the West of England." 2

Later some of the family held estates at Aughton in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "This place, called in Domesday Book Actone, Hactone, and Hacstone, was formerly the residence of the family of West, of whom was Sir William West, a soldier in the army of Henry VIII., and who had, in reward for his services, beneficial grants of abbey lands: the family resided here till the latter end of the reign of Elizabeth." 5

Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times. Today we typically need to look beyond the spellings of these entries and concentrate on on a phonetic appreciation of the names. Maurice de West in Colchester, Essex in 1152-1170; Goche West, in the Pipe Rolls for Norfolk in 1197; William del West in Essex in 1262; and Robert Westen de Copford in Colchester, Essex in the 13th century. 1

Early History of the Westhagh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Westhagh research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1312, 1365, 1386, 1399, 1401, 1402, 1405, 1556, 1570, 1590, 1601, 1632, 1635, 1636, 1637, 1642, 1659, 1660, 1670, 1674, 1691, 1710, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Westhagh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Westhagh Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Westhagh are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Westhagh include: West, Weste and others.

Early Notables of the Westhagh family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas West, 1st Baron West (1365-1405), only son of Sir Thomas West, of de Hampton Cantilupe (1312-1386), served alongside his father under Richard II; one of them was in active service in Calais in 1386, A knight banneret, he served in Ireland with the Duke of Aumale in 1399, and attended Richard's young Queen Isabella homeward to Calais in 1401, When Thomas was seventeen, he and his mother and sister Eleanor were assaulted and robbed, by Nicholas Clifton, who carried his sister off, he was probably the same Nicholas Clifton who later married her, knighted...
Another 161 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Westhagh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Westhagh family to Ireland

Some of the Westhagh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Westhagh family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Westhagh or a variant listed above: Brient Weste settled in Newfoundland in 1730; Robert West was a merchant in St John's Newfoundland in 1794; Francis West settled in Virginia in 1608; 14 years before the ".

The Westhagh 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: Jour de ma vie
Motto Translation: Day of my life, i.e. “Most glorious day of my life.”.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.