Show ContentsWidmer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Widmer family

The surname Widmer was first found in Nottinghamshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1454 Nicholas Wydmerpole when they held lands.

Early History of the Widmer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Widmer research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Widmer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Widmer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Widmerpole, Widmerpool, Widerpole, Widmerpoll, Widmer, Widmere and many more.

Early Notables of the Widmer family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Widmerpole family of Nottingham

Widmer Ranking

In the United States, the name Widmer is the 8,421st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Widmer is ranked the 3,242nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2


United States Widmer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Widmer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Casper Widmer, who landed in Florida in 1709 3
  • Jost Widmer, who landed in Florida in 1709 3
  • Marget Widmer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1735 3
  • Susannah Widmer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1735 3
  • Elisabeth Widmer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1735 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Widmer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Widmer, aged 23, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 3
  • Josephine Widmer, aged 30, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 3
  • Joseph Widmer, who landed in Arkansas in 1887 3
Widmer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Andreas Widmer, aged 42, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 3
  • Bertha Widmer, aged 13, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 3
  • Jacob Widmer, aged 51, who landed in New York, NY in 1901 3
  • Gottlieb Widmer, aged 4, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 3
  • Clara Widmer, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Widmer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Widmer Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Johann Widmer, aged 20, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902

Contemporary Notables of the name Widmer (post 1700) +

  • John Widmer, American politician, Mayor of Lackawanna, New York, 1915-16 4
  • Harold Widmer, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1948; Chair of Stephenson County Republican Party, 1950 4
  • Samuel Widmer (1948-2017), Swiss physician, psychiatrist, psychotherapist who used psycholytic substances in therapy
  • Urs Widmer (1938-2014), Swiss novelist, playwright, an essayist and a short story writer


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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