Wydville History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Wydville family

The surname Wydville was first found in Northamptonshire. The family is originally from "Widville, Guidoville, or Viville, which was held from the De Toesnis in Normandy. Hugh de Guidville came to England in 1066, and by 1086 held lands in Northantshire and Leicestershire 1. Robert, his son, temp. Henry I., granted the tithes of Guidoville to Conches Abbey, with consent of Ralph de Toesni, and in 1130 held the estates of Roger de Mowbray in farm from the Crown according to the Pipe Rolls. He had, 1. Ralph, father of Robert de VVithville, whose brother William de Widville of Northants 1165 2 and was ancestor of the Earls Rivers; 2. William, whose son, Richard de Withville, held five knight's fees in York from Mowbray, and half a fee in capite 2. He was a benefactor to Byland Abbey. Walter de Widville occurs temp. Richard I; and William, son of William de Wyville, in 1299 confirmed his ancestor's gifts to Byland Abbey. From this line descend the Baronets Wyville." 3

"Hugh de Witwile, the founder of the family, held of the Honour of Grentemesnil, and appears to have been seated at Sproxton, in Leicestershire. They long continued in the county." 4

"William de Wydeville, who, according to the Liber Niger, held half a knight's fee of Robert Foliot, was seated at Grafton in Northamptonshire, where his descendants continued for a great many generations. One of them, Richard de Wydeville, Constable of Northampton Castle, and twice Sheriff of the county under Edward III., married the widowed Lady of Warkworth, Elizabeth, heiress of the Lyons; another was Constable of the Tower and Esquire of the Body to Henry V." 4

Early History of the Wydville family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wydville research. Another 303 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1299, 1448, 1461, 1462, 1542, 1611, 1617, 1645, 1648, 1666, 1684, 1692, 1722, 1740, 1750, 1754 and 1774 are included under the topic Early Wydville History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wydville Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wydville, Widville, Widvile, Wydvile and others.

Early Notables of the Wydville family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Marmaduke Wyvill (c. 1542-1617), Vice Chamberlain of the Household to Queen Elizabeth, was created a Baronet in 1611, and towards the end of James I.'s reign, removed to Constable-Burton, their present seat. The next Sir Marmaduke (died c. 1648) suffered heavily for his loyalty during the Civil War ; his house was twice sacked by Cromwell's troopers, and he was mulcted of upwards of £1,300 as composition for his estate. The last in succession was the seventh baronet—again Sir Marmaduke—who died a bachelor in 1774. His sister had married her cousin, the...
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wydville Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wydville family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
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)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3