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![Show Contents]() Witegroves History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
When the ancestors of the Witegroves family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Staffordshire, at the manor of Whitgreave. Early Origins of the Witegroves familyThe surname Witegroves was first found in Staffordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Whitgreave. "In the reign of Henry III., Robert Whitgreave, the ancestor of this family, was seated at Burton near Stafford." 1 He received a grant of Arms from Humphrey, Earl of Stafford. The Arms are based on those of Stafford and there seems to be a relationship between the Whitgreaves and the noble house of Stafford. It was the Norman custom for the second son to adopt the surname of his manor or village. The small village of Whitgreave dates back to 1193 when it was first listed as Witegraue and possible meant "white grove or corpse," from the Old English words "hwit" + "graefe." 2 Early History of the Witegroves familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Witegroves research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1449, 1590 and 1651 are included under the topic Early Witegroves History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Witegroves Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Witegroves has been recorded under many different variations, including Witgrave, Whitgrave, Whitgrove, Whitgreave, Whitgroves, Whitgreaves, Whitegrave, Whitegraves, Whitegrove, Whitegroves, Whitegreave, Whitegreaves, Witegrave, Witegrove, Witgreaves, Witgreave, Witgrove, Witgrave, Whitgraves, Witgraves and many more. Early Notables of the Witegroves familyMore information is included under the topic Early Witegroves Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Witegroves familyTo escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Witegrovess were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Thomas Witgrave who landed in North America in 1754.
- Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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