Whatman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The name Whatman comes from a name for a "bold, brave man" having derived from the Old English word "hwatmann." In some cases, the name could have been derived from the Middle English word "wodman," from "wodeman," which meant "woodman." 1

Another source claims the name could denote "a dealer in woad for dyeing as in Wadster." 2

Early Origins of the Whatman family

The surname Whatman was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Wateman was listed in Dorset and Wetman was recorded in Herefordshire. 3 Singular names were quite common at the time. In Devon, the Pipe Rolls of 1168 have a listing for Algar filius Watman and in Oxfordshire, John Watemon was recorded at Eynsham in 1264. The Hundredorum Rolls for 1279 included an entry for Hugo Weteman. Richard Whateman (Wateman) was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. 1

A scan of early records in Norfolk, show Symon le Wademan in 1296 and in Yorkshire, Richard de Norham, waddeman was listed as a Freeman of York in 1375. These last two entries would denote the occupational nature of the names. John Wodeman was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296 and William Wadman was listed in Yorkshire in 1417. 1

Early History of the Whatman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whatman research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1375, 1417, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Whatman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whatman Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Whatman include Wademan, Wadman, Waddman, Wadmen and others.

Early Notables of the Whatman family

More information is included under the topic Early Whatman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whatman migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Whatman or a variant listed above:

Whatman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Chas. Whatman, aged 19, who settled in America from England, in 1893
Florence Whatman, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Maidstone, in 1899

Whatman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Wm. Whatman, aged 40, who landed in America from England, in 1901
William Whatman, aged 46, who immigrated to the United States from Brede, England, in 1907
Mary Grace Whatman, aged 19, who settled in America from Boughton, England, in 1911
Edward Whatman, aged 52, who landed in America from Boughton, England, in 1911

Whatman 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:

Whatman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

A. Whatman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1880

Contemporary Notables of the name Whatman (post 1700) +

James Whatman (1813-1887), English Liberal politician, Member of Parliament for Maidstone (1852-1857) and (1865-1874), Member of Parliament for West Kent (1857-1859)
Lieutenant Colonel Amherst Barrow "Brownie" Whatman MBE (1909-1984), English wireless operator, radio engineer and explorer; he was wireless operator on the Oxford University Arctic Expedition (1935-1936)
James Whatman Bosanquet (1804-1877), Welsh partner in the banking-house of Bosanquet, Salt, & Co., and a writer on biblical and Assyrian chronology

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)