Wisemand History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Wisemand is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that was given to a person who was a wise or learned person. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English words wis, meaning wise or knowledgeable, and man, meaning man. 1 The family could have ultimately been Norman in origin as "Wisman, of Falaise, Normandy, occurs t. William I. (during the reign of William I)" 2 Early Origins of the Wisemand familyThe surname Wisemand was first found in Essex where they "belonging to the distinguished families of Rivenhall, Northend, Great Baddow, Felstead, etc., and played an important part in the county and frequently served as high sheriffs." 3 One of the first records of the family was Ranulph Wisman who witnessed a charter of Beatrix de Say, c. 1140, in favour of Waltham Abbey, Essex. Reginald Wisman, of Essex was listed in 1194. 4 By the 13th century, records of the name were scattered as seen by the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which listed Roger Wyseinan, Oxfordshire; Alan Wysman, Cambridgeshire; and John Wysman, Oxfordshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes Wysman and Petrus Wysman. Further to the north in Scotland, Wisemand was "an old surname in Angus and Moray. Andrea Wysman witnessed excambion of the lands of Dolays Mychel in 1232, and in the following year attested a confirmation charter by Andrew, bishop of Moray. " 5 Early History of the Wisemand familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wisemand research. Another 235 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1232, 1285, 1296, 1305, 1393, 1484, 1513, 1612, 1622, 1629, 1630, 1632, 1643, 1656, 1661, 1676, 1677, 1679, 1685, 1688 and 1712 are included under the topic Early Wisemand History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wisemand Spelling VariationsOnly recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Wisemand has undergone many spelling variations, including Wiseman, Wyseman, Wysman, Wisman and others. Early Notables of the Wisemand familyNotables of this surname at this time include: Sir Simon Wyssman, knighted in 1513 by King Henry 8th as a result of Sir John's bravery in action at the Battle of Spurs in the Hundred Years War; Sir Thomas Wiseman of Rivenhall, Essex; and his son, Sir William Wiseman, 1st Baronet (c.1629-1688), an... Migration of the Wisemand family to IrelandSome of the Wisemand family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Wisemand familyTo escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Wisemand were among those contributors: Henry and Catherine Wiseman, who settled in Maryland in 1634; John Wiseman, who settled in Virginia in 1652; Henry Wiseman, who settled in Maryland in 1719.
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