Show ContentsWitthone History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Witthone family

The surname Witthone was first found in Lincolnshire at North Witham, a small village in South Kesteven. However, Witham is also a town in the county of Essex. The parish of Witham appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 and the manor of Witham was given to the Knights Templar in 1148. John de Wytham, was 'the king's chaplain' in 1286. 1 Witham Friary is a small village and civil parish located in Somerset. "Ledstone Hall [in Ledstone, in the West Riding of Yorkshire] is a handsome mansion, anciently the seat of the Witham family." 2

Early History of the Witthone family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Witthone research. Another 255 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1420, 1454, 1458, 1460, 1467, 1473, 1489, 1538, 1604, 1624, 1625, 1634, 1654, 1655, 1659, 1668, 1704, 1707, 1725, 1728, 1738, 1752, 1777, 1799 and 1884 are included under the topic Early Witthone History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Witthone Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Witham, Withem, Wittam, Witam, Withum, Wittum, Whittam, Whitham, Whittum, Whittem, Wytham, Wyttam, Wyttum, Wythum, Withams, Wittams and many more.

Early Notables of the Witthone family

Notables of the family at this time include William Witham (or Wytham) (died before 1473), English cleric who was incumbent at St Marylebone until 12 November 1454, when he exchanged the office for that of Archdeacon of Stow. He was then Archdeacon of Leicester (from 1458), Dean of Arches (from c.?1460) and Dean of Wells (from 1467) until his death before 1473. Thomas Witham (c.1420-1489), was an English Chancellor of the Exchequer under Kings Henry VI and Edward IV; and Thomas Whetham, was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1624. Nathaniel Whetham (1604-1668), was an English...
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Witthone Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Witthone family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Peter Witham who settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1630; Henry Witham settled in Maryland in 1730; Miss Witham settled in Boston in 1823; George and Joshua arrived in Pennsylvania in 1855.



The Witthone Motto +

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: Optime merenti
Motto Translation: To the best deserving.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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