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![Show Contents]() Wittwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Wittwell is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Wittwell family lived in any of various places called Whitwell, in Dorset, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and the North Riding of Yorkshire.These place names are derived from the Old English hwi-t, meaning "white," and well meaning a "spring," or "stream." Early Origins of the Wittwell familyThe surname Wittwell was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Early History of the Wittwell familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wittwell research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1238, 1296, 1719, 1749, 1788 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Wittwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wittwell Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Witwall, Witwell, Whitwell, Whitwel, Whitewell and others. Early Notables of the Wittwell familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was John Griffin Whitwell (1719-1797), birth name of Field Marshal John Griffin Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden, 1st Baron Braybrooke. He assumed the name Griffin through his mother Anne...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wittwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Wittwell familyTo escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Wittwell or a variant listed above: Elizabeth Whitewell, who settled in Virginia in 1653; W. Whitewell settled in San Francisco California in 1864; John Whitwell settled in America in 1675.
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