Show ContentsWhittlesey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Whittlesey family

The surname Whittlesey was first found in Lancashire where the name was derived from the place name Whittle-in-the-Woods, a township in the parish of Leyland. There are also "hamlets and townships in Northumberland and Derbyshire." 1 "There are five townships bearing this singular name, two of which are in Lancashire, two in Northumberland, and one in Derbyshire." 2

Looking at census records in the late 1800's, the hamlet of Whittle in Derbyshire was the most populous with 2,284 people living there at that time, followed by Whittle in Northumberland with 56 and another Whittle in Northumberland with 31 people. The aforementioned Whittle-in-the-Woods or Whittle-Le-Woods is perhaps the most interesting. "One-half of the manor was granted about the reign of Henry I. to Gilbert de Witul." However, he passed the estate to "Richard le Butler; and by marriage with the heiresses of John Butler, it came to the families of Standish of Duxbury, and Anderton of Clayton." 3

Early entries in various rolls were infrequent as we must look to the Wills at Chester to find the following entries: John Whittle, of Chorley, Lancashire in 1581; and Robert Whittle, of Leyland in 1617. 1

Whittlesey is a village, in the hundred of North Witchford, Isle of Ely, county of Cambridge. "This place, called Witesie in Domesday Book, is supposed to have been a Roman station from the traces of a military way, and the numerous relics of antiquity discovered in the neighbourhood. " 3

William Whittlesey or Wittlesey (d. 1374), was Archbishop of Canterbury, "though doubtless a native of the Cambridgeshire village whose name he bore. " 4

Early History of the Whittlesey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whittlesey research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1650 is included under the topic Early Whittlesey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whittlesey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Whittall, Whittell, Whittle, Wittle, Whyttel, Whyttall, Whyttle, Wyttle, Wittall, Wittel, Wittell and many more.

Early Notables of the Whittlesey family

More information is included under the topic Early Whittlesey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Whittlesey family to Ireland

Some of the Whittlesey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Whittlesey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Whittlesey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Augusta M. Whittlesey, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
  • Caroline Whittlesey, aged 58, who landed in America, in 1908
  • Mrs. H. C. Whittlesey, who settled in America, in 1908
  • Frances C. Whittlesey, aged 68, who landed in America, in 1910
  • Jeannie Whittlesey, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Whittlesey (post 1700) +

  • Faith Ryan Whittlesey (1939-2018), American politician and diplomat, United States Ambassador to Switzerland (1985-1988), (1981-1983), Director of the Office of Public Liaison (1983-1985), Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1973-1976)
  • William Augustus Whittlesey (1796-1866), U.S. Representative from Ohio
  • Thomas Tucker Whittlesey (1798-1868), U.S. Representative from Connecticut
  • Charles Frederick Whittlesey (1867-1941), American architect
  • Charles Whittlesey (1808-1886), American soldier, geologist and an investigator of mounds relics
  • Colonel Charles White Whittlesey (1884-1921), American Medal of Honor recipient
  • Frederick Whittlesey (1799-1851), U.S. Representative from New York
  • Elisha Whittlesey (1783-1863), American lawyer, civil servant and U.S. Representative from Ohio
  • William Whittlesey (d. 1374), English Bishop of Rochester, then Bishop of Worcester, then finally Archbishop of Canterbury
  • Samuel Whittlesey Dana (1760-1830), American lawyer and politician, United States Senator from Connecticut (1810-1821)


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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