The earliest origins of the family name Wigghthan date back to the
Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name given to a person with a pale complexion or blond hair. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames,
nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. The name means "white man."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)Early Origins of the Wigghthan family
The surname Wigghthan was first found in Peebles-shire. The variant Witmar was found in the
Domesday Book of 1086. Other early listings of the name or one of its variants include: Witeman fugitius who was listed in the
Pipe Rolls of
Gloucestershire in 1170; William Witman who was listed in the
Pipe Rolls of
Kent in 1230; Richard Wyteman who was listed in the Assize Rolls of
Staffordshire in 1243; and Stephen Whytman who was listed in the Assize Rolls of
Somerset in 1243.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Early History of the Wigghthan family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wigghthan research.
Another 203 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1688, 1716, 1566, 1612 and are included under the topic Early Wigghthan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Wigghthan Spelling Variations
Before English spelling was standardized a few
hundred years ago,
spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Wigghthan include Whiteman, Whitman, Wightman, Whyteman and others.
Early Notables of the Wigghthan family (pre 1700)
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wigghthan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Wigghthan family to Ireland
Some of the Wigghthan family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 103 words (7 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 Wigghthan family to the New World and Oceana
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck
England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in
England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Robert Whiteman settled in New
England in 1635; Matthew Whiteman arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733; John Whiteman settled in Philadelphia in 1741.