Early Origins of the Wisan family
The surname Wisan was first found in
Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of
Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North
Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a
family seat from ancient times in the reign of King Malcolm IV in 1153, in the village of Wicestun.
Further south in England, Whiston can be found in Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. Here the place name literally means "white stone." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Early History of the Wisan family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wisan research.
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1100, 1260, 1292, 1300, 1358, 1667, 1752, 1780 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Wisan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Wisan Spelling Variations
The many
spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Wisan has been spelled Whiston, Wiston and others.
Early Notables of the Wisan family (pre 1700)
Notable amongst the family at this time was Sir Henry, Lord of Wiceston; and William Whiston (1667-1752), an English theologian, historian, and mathematician, best known for his translation of the Antiquities of the Jews. His son, John Whiston (d. 1780), was an English bookseller "and was probably born within five years of his father's marriage...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wisan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Wisan family to Ireland
Some of the Wisan family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in
Ireland is included in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Wisan family to the New World and Oceana
To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in
Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through
Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were: William Whistons settled in Virginia in 1670; Nathanial, James, and Charles Whiston, all settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1820 and 1874.
Wisan Family Crest Products
See Also
Citations
- ^ Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)