Show ContentsWishingtolm History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Wishingtolm is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Wishingtolm family lived in Lancashire, at Washington. The name of this village derives from the Old English word wassingatun, meaning a settlement of the people of Wassa, a personal name which combines Old English elements meaning hunt and victory.

Early Origins of the Wishingtolm family

The surname Wishingtolm was first found in Durham at Washington, a parish, in the union of Chesterle-Street, E. division of Chester ward. It is said that from this parish rose the stock that George Washington, the American patriot claims descent. 1 2 There is another parish named Washington in Sussex.

Early History of the Wishingtolm family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wishingtolm research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1451, 1602, 1631, 1653, 1659, 1677, 1694, 1698 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Wishingtolm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wishingtolm Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Wishingtolm include Washington, Washingtone and others.

Early Notables of the Wishingtolm family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Wessington (d. 1451), Prior of Durham, "was possibly born at, and took his name from, a village in the county of Durham, now known as Washington. " 3 Reverend Lawrence Washington (1602-1653), was an English rector, and the great-great-grandfather of George Washington. John Washington (c. 1631-1677), an English Virginia planter and politician from...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wishingtolm Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Wishingtolm family to Ireland

Some of the Wishingtolm 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 Wishingtolm family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Wishingtolms to arrive on North American shores: Richard Washington settled in Virginia in 1639; John and Lawrence Washington settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1657; Thomas Washington settled in Barbados in 1670.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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