Widdas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Widdas was originally a baptismal name as in "the son of Wydo" which is English for Guido or Guy 1 or it was an Old English name derived from "widuwe, widewe (widow)" 2

Early Origins of the Widdas family

The surname Widdas was first found in Norfolk where William filius Wydo was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. The same roll lists Reginald filius Wydonis in Hunts county. Other early variants of the name include Thomas Wydowe who was listed during the reign of Richard II (1367-1400) and much later Annabella Wydow was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. This latter listing is quite unique as at this time, female entries were very rare. 1

Another source notes Richard Wyduesone listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1309; Peter la Wydewesone in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1326; John la Wydewesone in the Subsidy Rolls for Derbyshire in 1327; and William le Wydusone in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1332. 2

Early History of the Widdas family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Widdas research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1297, 1481, 1502, 1505, 1576, 1588, 1594, 1595, 1603, 1604, 1619, 1645, 1732, 1898 and 1990 are included under the topic Early Widdas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Widdas Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Widdow, Wyddow, Wyddowson, Widdowson, Widdas, Widders, Widdis, Widwise, Widdars, Widow, Widows, Widdos, Widdoes and many more.

Early Notables of the Widdas family

Distinguished members of the family include David Vernon Widder (1898-1990), an American mathematician.Giles Widdowes (1588?-1645), was an English divine, born about 1588, son of Thomas Widdowes of Mickleton, Gloucestershire and was probably matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford, in 1603-1604. 3Robert Wydow (d. 1505), was an English poet and musician, born at Thaxted, Essex. "His stepfather, a schoolmaster, educated him and sent him to Oxford. He is...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Widdas Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Widdas 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:

Widdas Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. D. Widdas, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 12th December 1868 4
Arthur Widdas, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British Queen" in 1883 5

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html