The surname Wightway was first found in Dorset, where Whiteway was and ancient hundred that included the parishes of Cheselbourne, Hilton, Ibberton, Melcombe Horsey, Milton Abbas, Stoke Wake and Woolland.
Another source claims the name is from neighboring Devon: "The Whiteways or Whiteaways bear an ancient Devonshire name. John de Wyteweye, of the Teignbridge hundred in the reign of Edward I., is referred to in the Hundred Rolls. An ancient estate in Kingsteignton, near Chudleigh, is called Whiteway, and a family of Whiteway resided in Chudleigh in the 16th and 17th centuries. The name was established in Ashburton in the 16th century, Whytewaye being the name of Ashburton churchwardens in 1539 and 1578. The name is still represented in Chudleigh and Ashburton." 1
Another source agrees that the name is from "Whiteway House, Whiteway Barton (Devon) where the name was Whythaweye in 1335." 2 The name literally means "from a residence near a white road."
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Early History of the Wightway family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wightway research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wightway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Wightway Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Whiteway, Wyteway, Wightway, Witway and others.
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Early Notables of the Wightway family
More information is included under the topic Early Wightway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Wightway family
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Silvester Whiteway who was a boat-keeper in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1682; William Whiteway settled at Western Bay, Newfoundland, in 1771; the Whiteways also settled at Harbour Grace,(1812).
England
