The ancestors of the Whiarde family first reached the shores of
England in the wave of migration after the
Norman Conquest of 1066. Their name is derived from
Guyat, a pet form of the Old French given name
Guy.Early Origins of the Whiarde family
The surname Whiarde was first found in
Sussex where they held a
family seat at early times, after the
Norman Conquest of 1066.
Early History of the Whiarde family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whiarde research.
Another 333 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1554, 1746, 1813, 1460, 1537, 1503, 1542, 1536, 1521, 1554, 1550, 1623, 1588, 1644, 1616 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Whiarde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Whiarde Spelling Variations
Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of
spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to
England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Wyatt, Wyat and others.
Early Notables of the Whiarde family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Francis Wyatt; Sir Henry Wyatt (1460-1537), an English courtier from Yorkshire; and his son, Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542), an early English language poet and statesman, knighted by Henry VIII in 1536; Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger (1521-1554), an English rebel leader during...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Whiarde Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Whiarde family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Whiarde or a variant listed above: Sir Francis and Lady Margaret Wyatt, who settled in Virginia in 1621; George Wyatt, who arrived in Virginia in 1662; Christopher Wyatt, who settled in Barbados with his servants in 1680.
The Whiarde Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Duriora virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue tries harder things.