Wingham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins and Etymology of Wingham

The surname Wingham was first found in Kent at Wingham, a civil parish and village that dates back to 834 when it was originally listed as Uuigincggaham.

By the Domesday Book in 1086, the parish had a more modern spelling of Wingheham and literally meant "homestead of the family or followers of a man called Wiga" having derived from the Old English personal name + inga + ham. Alternatively, the first element may have been derived from the Old English "wig" meaning "heathen temple." 1

The lands of Wingham, were held by the Archbishop of Canterbury who was recorded as chief tenant in the Domesday Book. At that time, this large village consisted of 2 mills a fishery and a salthouse. 2

Henry de Wingham or Wengham (d. 1262), was Bishop of London, born at Wingham in Kent. "He was probably at first a Clerk in the Exchequer and later, one of the king's escheators. He was appointed chamberlain of Gascony, and in 1252 he was sent to inquire into the complaints of the Gascons against the government of Simon de Montfort. The king seems to have suspected him of being too favourable to the Gascons, for he sent another commission to make renewed inquiry. " 3

Early History of the Wingham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wingham research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1148, 1236, 1255, 1259 and 1262 are included under the topic Early Wingham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wingham Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wingam, Wingham, Wingeham and others.

Early Notables of the Wingham family

Henry Wingham (died 1262) Lord Chancellor of England in 1255 and Bishop of London (1259-1262.)...

Migration of the Wingham family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: settlers were recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Florida, and to the islands..

Contemporary Notables of the name Wingham (post 1700) +

Duncan Wingham, English Professor of Climate Physics at University College London, known for his studies on the Antarctic
Thomas Wingham (1846-1893), English musician, choirmaster at Brompton Oratory

Sources +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print