Willingghan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Willingghan is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Willingghan family lived in Derbyshire, at Willington.

Early Origins of the Willingghan family

The surname Willingghan was first found in Derbyshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Willington. John of Willington held a family seat there at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book, 1 a survey taken by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England at Hastings in 1066 A.D. At the survey Willington was held by Ralph FitzHubert, a Norman overlord, and it is most likely that John of Willington was the second son of Ralph, who took his name from the Lordship of Willington, as was customary in the Norman culture.

The village and civil parish of Cherry Willingham is in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire and Willingham by Stow is a rural village nearby.

Early History of the Willingghan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Willingghan research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1322 and 1330 are included under the topic Early Willingghan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Willingghan Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Willington, Willinton, Wilington, Wilinton, de Willington and many more.

Early Notables of the Willingghan family

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

Migration of the Willingghan family to Ireland

Some of the Willingghan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 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 Willingghan family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Willingghan or a variant listed above: Jane Willington who settled in Virginia in 1699; Mary Willington settled in Jamaica in 1684; and another Mary Willington settled in Virginia in 1653; William Willington settled in Maryland in 1718..

The Willingghan 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: Vigueur de dessus
Motto Translation: Strength is from above.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)