| ![Show Contents]() Werters History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of WertersWhat does the name Werters mean? The name Werters is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in Shropshire. The name Werters indicates that the original bearer of the name lived close to a prominent body of water such as a lake or river. "Water was the normal medieval pronunciation of Walter. Theobald Walter is also called Theobaldus filius Walteri, Theobaldus Walteri and Tebaut Water in the Feet of Fines for Lancashire 1212-1236." 1 Another reputable source has another theory about the origin of the name. "In some dialects, the word water is applied to lakes and rivers, as Ullswater, Derwent-water, Black-water. Upon the adoption of surnames by the common people, a person who resided near such a place would be called William or John Atte-Water, still retained in Attwater; but on the omission of the preposition in the XV. century, the name was pluralized to Waters. The latinizations are De Aqua and Ad Aquam." 2 And another source claims it was "a name given to one who navigated the waters, or resided near them." 3 Ralph Wader of Guader, Earl of Norfolk (fl. 1070), was "son of Ralph the Staller (d. 1066). This Ralph is frequently referred to in Domesday Book as having held various estates, and is twice mentioned as 'Radulfus comes vetus' (ii. 128b, 129), and on one other occasion as 'Radulfus Stalra' and father of Ralph Guader." 4 Early Origins of the Werters familyThe surname Werters was first found in Shropshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, in Ludlow, before and after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Waterus de Cantelupo was listed in Lincolnshire in c. 1135; and later John Watter was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Warwickshire in 1214. Richard Wauter and Roger Water were found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275 and a few years later, Hugh Water was listed in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1279. Alice Waters was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327 and John Wauters was listed in Warwickshire in 1348. 1 Early History of the Werters familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Werters research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1610, 1731, 1754, 1774, 1777, 1797, 1816, 1840, 1841, 1842 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Werters History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Werters Spelling VariationsThe 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. Werters has been spelled many different ways, including Waters, Water and others. Early Notables of the Werters familyJohn Waters FitzGeorge of Newcastle, whose grandson became Count Waters, Baron and Seigneur of Mainsfort in the province of Bery in France.
Sir John Waters (1774-1842), Welsh lieutenant-general, was born in 1774 at Tyfry, near Welsh St. Donats, Glamorganshire. His grandfather, Edward Waters of Pittcott, was High Sheriff of Glamorganshire in 1754. His father, whose name is not ascertained, died young, leaving a large family. The Marquis of Bute obtained a commission for the son in the 1st (Royal Scots) foot on 2 Aug. 1797. He was given the colonelcy of the 81st foot on 15 June 1840, and was promoted lieutenant-general...
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Werters Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Werters family to IrelandSome of the Werters family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Werters migration to the United States | + |
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 Werterss to arrive in North America:
Werters Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Christian Werters, who arrived in Maryland in 1664 5
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- 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)
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