Show ContentsWitte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Witte family

The surname Witte was first found in the western Netherlands near the city of Dordecht. This very old city dates back to at least 1120 and one of the first records of the surname was Jan de Witte, a patrician who lived around 1295.

Early History of the Witte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Witte research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1548, 1573, 1589, 1618, 1619, 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625, 1637, 1672, 1674, 1676, 1677, 1681, 1696 and 1769 are included under the topic Early Witte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Witte Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Witt, Witte, De Witt, De Witte, De Wit, Dewitt and others.

Early Notables of the Witte family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

  • Gaspar de Witte (1624-1681), a Flemish painter of the Baroque period

Witte Ranking

In the United States, the name Witte is the 4,038th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in Netherlands, the name Witte is ranked the 429th most popular surname with an estimated 3,890 people with that name. 2


United States Witte migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Witte Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ralph Witte, who landed in Maryland in 1668 3
Witte Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann Diedrich Witte, who settled in Germantown in 1753
  • Jobst Witte, who landed in America in 1780 3
  • Hermann Witte, who arrived in New York, NY in 1782 3
Witte Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Erich Witte, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 3
  • Henry Witte, aged 39, who landed in St Louis, Missouri in 1840 3
  • Johan G H Witte, aged 25, who landed in St Louis, Missouri in 1840 3
  • Joh Heinr Witte, who arrived in America in 1844 3
  • Gustavus Adolphus Witte, who arrived in New York, NY in 1844 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Witte Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Wilhelm Witte, aged 20, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 3
  • Albert Witte, who settled in America from Brannschweiz, Germany, in 1910
  • Adolf Witte, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Nienberg, Germany, in 1912
  • Agnes Witte, aged 34, who landed in America from Kehe, Germany, in 1916
  • Adele Witte, aged 22, who immigrated to America from Backhorst, Germany, in 1924
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Witte migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Witte Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • R. or F. Witte, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 4

New Zealand Witte 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:

Witte Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Jane Witte, (b. 1861), aged Infant, German settler from Oldenburg, Germany travelling from London aboard the ship "Victoria" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th March 1862 5
  • Mr. Barnard Witte, (b. 1822), aged 39, German carpenter from Oldenburg, Germany travelling from London aboard the ship "Victoria" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th March 1862 5
  • Mrs. Mary Witte, (b. 1833), aged 28, German settler from Oldenburg, Germany travelling from London aboard the ship "Victoria" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th March 1862 5
  • Mr. Barnard Witte, Jr., (b. 1855), aged 6, German settler from Oldenburg, Germany travelling from London aboard the ship "Victoria" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th March 1862 5
  • Miss Mary Witte, (b. 1857), aged 4, German settler from Oldenburg, Germany travelling from London aboard the ship "Victoria" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th March 1862 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Witte (post 1700) +

  • William Henry Witte (1817-1876), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 4th District, 1853-55
  • Wheeler J. Witte, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Dickinson District, 1944
  • Elmer Fredrick Witte (b. 1896), American Republican politician, Served in the U.S. Navy during World War I; Lawyer; Chair of Pawnee County Republican Party, 1940
  • Charles A. Witte Sr. (b. 1893), American Republican politician, Real estate business; Member of Missouri State House of Representatives, 1945-50; Member of Missouri State Senate 12th District, 1951-52
  • Carl Witte, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1964
  • Leslie "Les" Witte (1911-1973), nicknamed "Beanie" and "One Grand Witte", All-American basketball player for the Wyoming Cowboys in 1932 and 1934
  • William Henry Witte (1817-1876), American politician, Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
  • Terry L. Witte (b. 1952), American attorney and politician, former Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives
  • Luke Witte (b. 1950), American basketball player
  • Emanuel de Witte (1617-1691), Dutch perspective painter
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  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. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847HermanVonBeckerath.htm
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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