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The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Whithed come from its first bearer, who was a whitehaired or fair-haired person. The surname Whithed is derived from the Old English words hwit, which means white, and heafod, which means head. 1
The surname Whithed was first found in Lancashire and "especially in North England. " 2
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included two entries for the family with very early spellings: Roger Witheyed, Huntingdonshire; and William Witheyed, Cambridgeshire. And in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Adam Whiteheued; Johannes Whittehed; and Robertus Qwytheued. 2
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whithed research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1423, 1485, 1492, 1519, 1523, 1540, 1541, 1551, 1557, 1571, 1585, 1594, 1609, 1625, 1628, 1629, 1630, 1636, 1653, 1660, 1661, 1663, 1672, 1684, 1696 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Whithed History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Whithed has been spelled many different ways, including Whitehedd, Whited, Whitehead, Whytehead and others.
Notables of the family at this time include
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Whitheds to arrive in North America: Daniel Whitehead settled at Hempstead in New York in 1631; Richard Whitehead settled in New England in 1630; John Whitehead settled in New Haven Conn. in 1630.