Whytney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Whytney was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Whytney family lived in Herefordshire, at the village of Whitney.

Early Origins of the Whytney family

The surname Whytney was first found in Herefordshire where Harold de Whitney held the Lordship of Whitney from St. Guthlac's Church.

Early History of the Whytney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whytney research. Another 45 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1377, 1388, 1413, 1436, 1548 and 1601 are included under the topic Early Whytney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whytney Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Whitney, Witney and others.

Early Notables of the Whytney family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Robert Whitney of Whitney-on-Wye and Pencombe, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1377; and Robert Whitney of Whitney-on-Wye, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1413 and 1436. Geoffrey Whitney (1548?-1601?), was an English poet, the son of a father of the...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Whytney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Whytney family to Ireland

Some of the Whytney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 49 words (4 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 Whytney family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World 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 stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Whytney or a variant listed above: Joe Whitney and his son, who settled in New England in 1635; John Whitney, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635, along with Richard and Nathaniel.

The Whytney 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: Volens et valens
Motto Translation: Willing and able.