Wilsher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Early Origins of the Wilsher family

The surname Wilsher was first found in Durham where the first record of the name was of William Walcher (died 1080), Bishop of Durham (1070-1080). He was appointed by William the Conqueror to hold that see and was the first non-Englishman to hold the position. The Scottish invasion in 1079 by Malcolm III, plundered Northumberland for about three weeks.

Wallcher with over one hundred retainers for safety tried to resolve the wrongs but the Northumbrians attacked the Norman party. Wallcher led retreat to a nearby church proved fruitless as the party were forced out when the church was set afire. They were all killed when they left the blazing church. This same person is recorded as Walcher de Lorraine in the Domesday Book census of 1086. William de Wallichville was given lands at the conquest in Derbyshire and is son given lordships at Nottinghamshire after the Domesday Book in 1086. 1

Early History of the Wilsher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilsher research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wilsher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilsher Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Walchar, Walcher, Wallichville, Valecherville, Wallich and many more.

Early Notables of the Wilsher family

More information is included under the topic Early Wilsher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilsher migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Wilsher or a variant listed above:

Wilsher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Wilsher, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 2

Wilsher 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:

Wilsher Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

W. T. Wilsher, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
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)