| ![Show Contents]() Witcher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of WitcherWhat does the name Witcher mean? The ancient Scottish name Witcher was first used by the Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The original bearer of the name lived in Stirling. Early Origins of the Witcher familyThe surname Witcher was first found in Stirlingshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. William Wishart had a grant of the mill from the Abbey of Cambus Kenneth in the year 1200, and was associated with lands at Conon and Tulloch in 1254. Another William Wishart was a monk at St. Andrews in 1250. The family also held the lands of Kenny Murchardyn in 1279. Sir John Wishart rendered homage in 1296 to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland. 1 "Andrew Wycchard (Wyschard or Wychard) of Scotland, a prisoner of war in Hereford Castle, 1305-07. George Wischart was burned for heresy at St. Andrews, 1545/6, and a later George Wischart was first bishop of Edinburgh after the Restoration and private chaplain and biographer of the marquess of Montrose." 1 "The family are of ancient date in Forfarshire, and are descended from Robert, a natural son of David, Earl of Huntingdon, who having gone on a crusade to the Holy Land, was called Guishart, on account of the slaughter he made of the Saracens. Adam Wishart of Logie, was living in 1272." 2 "Some ancient writers say, that Robert, son of David, Earl of Huntingdon, took on him the cross, and distinguished himself in the Holy Land, where, from his gallant exploits against the Saracens, he received the name of Guis-hart, that is, Wise-heart, now Wishart." 3 Robert Wishart (d. 1316), was Bishop of Glasgow (1271-1316) and belonged to the family of Wishart or Wiseheart of Pittarrow, Forfarshire, and was either nephew or cousin of William Wishart, bishop of St. Andrews and chancellor of Scotland. 4 He was a leading supporter of Sir William Wallace and King Robert Bruce Much further to the south in England, and much earlier Wigheard, Wighard, or Vighard (d. 664), was Archbishop-elect of Canterbury, a Kentish priest and one of Deusdedit's clergy. "He was nominated to the archbishopric with the assent of the English church by the kings Oswy and Egbert, and was sent, bearing gold and silver vessels, to Rome for consecration. He died of the plague in Rome in 664, before his consecration. " 4 In Bedfordshire, Wishardus Leidt was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1176 and about the same time, Walter Wiscard, Wishard was found in the Pipe Rolls for Surrey in 1162 and 1169. Rannulf Wichard was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Essex in 1212. 5 Early History of the Witcher familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Witcher research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1513, 1538, 1546, 1576, 1592, 1593, 1596, 1597, 1599, 1629, 1649 and 1671 are included under the topic Early Witcher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Witcher Spelling VariationsThe 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 Witcher has been spelled Wishart, Wishard, Wychart, Wisehart, Wisheart, Wiseheart and many more. Early Notables of the Witcher familyGeorge Wishart (c.1513-1546) famous reformer and martyr. In 1538, while a schoolmaster at a grammar school in Montrose, he incurred a charge of heresy for teaching the Greek New Testament. After spending some time on the continent, he was sent back to Scotland by Henry VIII to negotiate a marriage contract between Prince Edward and Mary, Queen of Scots. In 1546 he was again arrested and burned at St. Andrews. He was the first to inspire John Knox. 4
Sir John Wishart (d. 1576), was a Scottish judge, the eldest son of...
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Witcher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Witcher Rankingthe United States, the name Witcher is the 4,585th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 6 Migration of the Witcher family to IrelandSome of the Witcher 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.
| Witcher migration to the United States | + |
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:
Witcher Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Henry Witcher, who settled in Virginia in 1642
- Hen Witcher, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 7
| Witcher migration to Canada | + |
Witcher Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Mrs. Witcher, who settled in Quebec in 1815
| Contemporary Notables of the name Witcher (post 1700) | + |
- Dick Vernon Witcher (1944-2021), American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League
- John Seashoal Witcher (1839-1906), American politician, lieutenant colonel of the 3rd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry in the Civil War, and U.S. Representative from West Virginia (1869-1871)
- W. C. Witcher, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 13th District, 1930 8
- Len Witcher, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 5th District, 1978 9
- Kenneth Witcher, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1960, 1972 (alternate) 9
- John Seashoal Witcher (1839-1906), American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Cabell County, 1866; Secretary of State of West Virginia, 1867-69 9
- Rear Admiral Robert Witcher Copeland (1910-1973), American officer awarded the Navy Cross in 1944, eponym of the USS Copeland (FFG-25)
- Nancy Witcher Astor (1879-1964), first English woman MP
- Frank Witcher McCullough (b. 1889), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, 1917; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from West Virginia, 1924 9
| Historic Events for the Witcher family | + |
- Mr. Albert Ernest Witcher (d. 1912), aged 39, English Senior Assistant Second Engineer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 10
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: Mercy is my desire
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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