Wittman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The name Wittman has a history dating as far back as the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a person with a pale complexion or blond hair. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. The name means "white man" 1 as far back as the 13th century when the poem Piers Plowman, (line 5195) notes "a Wightman of strengthe." 2

Alternatively, the name could have been a baptismal name as in 'the son of Wigmann.' "I strongly suspect the baptismal origin is the correct one. " 3

Early Origins of the Wittman family

The surname Wittman was first found in Oxfordhire. The variant Witmar (a personal name) was found in the Domesday Book of 1086. 4

Withman (d. 1047?), Abbot of Ramsey, called also Leucander and Andrew, was a German by birth. 5

Other early listings of the name or one of its variants include: Witeman fugitius who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1170; William Witman who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Kent in 1230; Richard Wyteman who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1243; and Stephen Whytman who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1243. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Agnes Wyteman in Oxfordshire; John Wyteman in Cambridgeshire; Thomas Wyteman in Oxfordshire and William Wytman in Huntingdonshire. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Johannes Wyghman, Willelmus Wyghman, and Johannes Wyghman as all holding lands there at that time. 3

The Scottish connection should now be explored. "Gilbert Wichtmann was rector of Lyne in 1527, and John Wychtman rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the burgh of Peebles in 1563. Thomas Vychtman was witness in Perthshire, 1547, John Waichtman appears in Melrose, 1606. " 7

Early History of the Wittman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wittman research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1544, 1566, 1612, 1631, 1688, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wittman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wittman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Wittman have been found, including Whiteman, Whitman, Wightman, Whyteman and others.

Early Notables of the Wittman family

Notables of the family at this time include Edward Wightman (1566-1612), an English Baptist, executed at Lichfield for his views and was the last person to be burned at the stake for heresy in England. "He is said to have...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wittman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wittman Ranking

In the United States, the name Wittman is the 7,929^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Wittman family to Ireland

Some of the Wittman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wittman migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Wittman, or a variant listed above:

Wittman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Martin Wittman, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710-1714 9
Jacob Wittman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 9
Gottfried Wittman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1772 9
Caspar Wittman, who landed in New York, NY in 1782 9

Wittman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Urs Wittman, aged 42, who landed in St Louis, Missouri in 1848 9
Fred Wittman, aged 35, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1874 9
Catharina Wittman, aged 33, who arrived in New York, NY in 1876 9
Catherina Wittman, aged 62, who landed in New York, NY in 1876 9
Johann Wittman, aged 41, who arrived in New York, NY in 1876 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Wittman (post 1700) +

Wayne Wittman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1996
Robert J. Wittman (b. 1959), American Republican politician, Mayor of Montross, Virginia, 1992-96; Member of Virginia State House of Delegates, 2006-07; U.S. Representative from Virginia 1st District, 2007-
Carl R. Wittman, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly from Lincoln County, 1938
Trevor Wittman (b. 1974), American boxing and MMA trainer
Sylvester Joseph "Steve" Wittman (1904-1995), American aviator and airplane designer
Scott Wittman (b. 1955), American director, lyricist, and writer
Robert J. "Rob" Wittman (b. 1959), U.S. Representative for Virginia's 1st congressional district
Randy Scot Wittman (b. 1959), American professional basketball player and coach
Brian Wittman, American musical instrument maker, inventor of the xaphoon
Julius "Baldy" Wittman (b. 1907), American professional football player for the Massillon Tigers
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Langland, William, Piers the Ploughman. Translated by J.F. Goodridge. Penguin Books, 1959. Original copy was published in 13th century.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)