Show ContentsWigght History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The bearers of Wigght and its variants are generally thought to have come from the noble family of Le Blancs in Normandy, who traveled to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest. Although the name certainly came to Britain from Normandy, there is some speculation that it already existed in Britain prior to the conquest. The word "white" itself is derived from the Old English word "hwit." This name was most likely originally used as a nickname for a person with white hair or a pale complexion.

Early Origins of the Wigght family

The surname Wigght was first found in Durham, but we must look to South Warnborough in Southampton for one of the most interesting stories about the family. "The church is very ancient, with a fine Norman arch at the entrance; in the chancel is a curious monument to Sir Thomas White and his family. Tradition says that Queen Elizabeth, when residing at Odiham, rode over to the manor-house here, and after partaking of breakfast with the above-mentioned Thomas White, knighted him in his own saloon." [1]

Early History of the Wigght family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wigght research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1106, 1172, 1236, 1327, 1560, 1579, 1585, 1593, 1620, 1628, 1630, 1656, 1657, 1676, 1685, 1686, 1690, 1698, 1704 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wigght History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wigght Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: White, Whyte, Wight and others.

Early Notables of the Wigght family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John White (c.1585), an English painter and cartographer who was sent to Roanoke Island (now in North Carolina) as artist, mapmaker, and later as governor; Andrew White (1579-1656), a Jesuit theology professor who went to Maryland as the head of a band of missionaries; Thomas White (1593-1676), an English Roman Catholic priest and scholar, known as a theologian, censured by the Inquisition; Thomas...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wigght Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Wigght family to Ireland

Some of the Wigght family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 114 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wigght family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: William White and his wife Susannah, who immigrated to Plymouth in 1620 with their sons Resolve and Peregrine (the latter born in Cape Cod Harbour on board the Mayflower in 1620.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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