| ![Show Contents]() Whigham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Whigham surname is a habitation name, derived from any of various places so named. Early Origins of the Whigham familyThe surname Whigham was first found in Hampshire at Wickham, anciently spelt Wykeham, a village and civil parish which dates back to c. 925-941 when it was spelt Wicham. 1 By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, it was listed as Wicheham. 2 William de Wycheham or Wickwane (d. 1285), was Archbishop of York and Canon and Chancellor of York. 3 This village was the birth place of William of Wykeham (c. 1320-1404), Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England. He founded New College Oxford and New College School in 1379, and later founded Winchester College in 1382. 4 The "Bishop of Winchester and chancellor of England, took his name from Wickham, near Fareham, Hampshire, where he was born in the summer of 1324. His mother, Sibill Bowade, had some gentle blood, but his father, John Long, is merely described as of free condition. They were poor, and Wykeham was sent to school at Winchester by some unnamed patrons, perhaps Sir Ralph Sutton and Sir John Scures. " 3 The place name literally means "homestead associated with a vicus (reference to its ancient Roman settlement)." 1 "[Birchanger in Essex] was given by Richard II. to William of Wykeham, for the endowment of New College, Oxford, the Warden and Fellows of which are the present proprietors." 4 The parish of Garsington in Oxfordshire was another ancient family seat. "The church [of Garsington], an ancient and venerable structure, contains some handsome monuments to the family of Wickham." 4 The Wycombe variant was first recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1326 as John de Wycoumbe. 5 Early History of the Whigham familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whigham research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1218, 1305, 1335, 1400, 1539, 1550, 1559, 1584 and 1595 are included under the topic Early Whigham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Whigham Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Wickham, Wickombe, Wycombe, Wickholm, Wigham, Wickcombe, Wigholm, Wickholme, Wykham, Wyckham, Wygholme, Wiggam, Wiggham and many more. Early Notables of the Whigham familyDistinguished members of the family include William Wickham (Wykeham) (1539-1595), an English bishop, Bishop of Lincoln (1584-1595) and Bishop of Winchester in 1595. He "claimed descent from William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, but was a member of a different family. He was...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Whigham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Whigham RankingIn the United States, the name Whigham is the 14,708th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6  Migration of the Whigham family to Ireland
Some of the Whigham 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.
| Whigham migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Whigham Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Henry James Whigham, aged 34, who landed in America from London, in 1904
- Charles F. Whigham, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1908
- Geo. Whigham, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Airdrie, Scotland, in 1909
- George Whigham, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1909
- George Whigham, aged 30, who landed in America from Newton, Mearns, Scotland, in 1909
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Whigham (post 1700) | + |
- Jiggs Whigham (b. 1943), American world famous virtuoso jazz trombonist
- Larry Whigham (b. 1972), former professional American football player
- Franklin Shea Whigham (b. 1969), American actor
- Peter George Whigham (1925-1987), English poet and translator
- William Murdoch Morrison "Willie" Whigham (1939-2021), Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Scottish League
- Henry James Whigham (1869-1954), Scottish writer and amateur golfer who won the U.S. Amateur in 1896 and 1897
- General Sir Robert Dundas Whigham GCB, KCMG, DSO (1865-1950), British former Adjutant-General to the Forces
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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Whigham migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
