Withorn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Withorn

The name Withorn is "clearly a nickname, perhaps one with a splendid trumpet or drinking-horn (from the Old English word hwit, meaning ‘white, fair, splendid’ and horn) 1

Early Origins of the Withorn family

Early History of the Withorn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Withorn research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1541, 1543, 1559, 1563, 1565, 1571, 1577 and 1590 are included under the topic Early Withorn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Withorn Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Withorn include Whitehorn, Withorn, Witehorne, Whithorn, Whithorne, Withorne, Whythorne and many more.

Early Notables of the Withorn family

George Whitehorne (died 1565) English cleric, Minor Canon and Priest-Vicar of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle 1541 to 1565 and Canon of Windsor from 1559 to 1565. Peter Whitehorne or Whithorne (fl. 1543-1563), was an English military writer, described on the title-pages of his books, first as student and then as 'fellow' of Gray's Inn. However, "his name does not occur...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Withorn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Withorn family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Withorn were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Arunges Whithorne settled in Virginia in 1653; Elizabeth Whithorn settled in New York in 1803.