The Whybirk name is an important part of the history of the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Whybirk is derived from Wigburh, a feminine name meaning "war-fortress." It was recorded once in 901 (as a personal name) and did not appear again until the 12th century. The record of the name from the 12th century is from Suffolk, where Wyburgh was recorded in church records in Bury, sometime between the years 1182 and 1211. This makes this name a metronymic vernacular name. The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of metronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Vernacular names that were derived from ancient Germanic personal names have cognates in most European languages. For example, the court of Charlemagne (742-814) was Christian and Latin-speaking, but the Frankish dialect of Old German was commonly used for personal names. Vernacular names were widespread throughout Normandy. Accordingly, many typical English and French names are in fact, originally of Germanic origin and often have cognates in other European countries.
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Early Origins of the Whybirk family
The surname Whybirk was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from ancient times, some say before the Norman Conquest in 1066.
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Early History of the Whybirk family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whybirk research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1461 is included under the topic Early Whybirk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Whybirk Spelling Variations
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Whybirk were recorded, including Wybrew, Wibbery, Wybbery, Whybrew, Whybrow, Wyebrough, Wybrow and many more.
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Early Notables of the Whybirk family
More information is included under the topic Early Whybirk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Whybirk family
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Whybirk family emigrate to North America: John WyBerry settled in Barbados in 1635.
England
Scotland
