Show ContentsWithrow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Withrow

What does the name Withrow mean?

The lineage of the name Withrow begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived at Winthrop in the county of Lincolnshire. That place-name is derived from the Old English personal name Winn, meaning friend and porp, meaning settlement, and indicates that it was once owned by someone name Winn.

Early Origins of the Withrow family

The surname Withrow was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor, some say at the time of the Norman Conquest of England in the year 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Withrow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Withrow research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1498, 1526, 1544, 1562, 1587, 1606, 1630, 1641, 1649, 1676, 1717 and 1825 are included under the topic Early Withrow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Withrow Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Withrow has undergone many spelling variations, including Winthorpe, Wynethorpe, Wynthorpe, Winethorpe, Wynethrop, Winthrop, Winthropp, Winethrop, Winthorp, Winthropp, Wynthropp, Wynethropp, Wynthrop, Winthrip, Winthrup, Withrupp, Withripp, Winthroppe, Wynthroppe and many more.

Early Notables of the Withrow family

Notables of the family at this time include John Winthrop (1587-1649), a wealthy English Puritan lawyer and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Born at Edwardston, Suffolk, he was "grandson of Adam Winthrop (1498-1562) of Lavenham in Suffolk, a substantial clothier, who founded the fortunes of the family, was granted the freedom of the city of London in 1526. He obtained by a grant of 1544 the manor of Groton, Suffolk, formerly belonging to...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Withrow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Withrow Ranking

In the United States, the name Withrow is the 4,432nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Withrow family to Ireland

Some of the Withrow family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Withrow migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Withrow were among those contributors:

Withrow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Withrow, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from County Tipperary, in 1893
Withrow Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Elisabeth Withrow, who landed in America, in 1907
  • William Withrow, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
  • Katherine Withrow, aged 70, who landed in America, in 1908
  • Marie Withrow, aged 45, who settled in America, in 1908
  • James Withrow, aged 8, who immigrated to America, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Withrow migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Withrow Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Jacob Withrow U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
  • Mr. Jacob II Withrow U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
Withrow Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Robert Withrow, aged 29, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
  • Nancy Withrow, aged 27, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
  • Mary Ann Withrow, aged 4, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
  • Robert Withrow, aged 6 months, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
Withrow Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Florence Withrow, aged 30, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1907
  • Henry Withrow, aged 7, who immigrated to Ottawa, Canada, in 1923
  • Ida Withrow, aged 33, who immigrated to Ottawa, Canada, in 1923
  • Phyllis Withrow, aged 6, who immigrated to Ottawa, Canada, in 1923

Contemporary Notables of the name Withrow (post 1700) +

  • Winfield S. Withrow, American politician, Justice of Iowa State Supreme Court, 1913-14. Presumably named for: Winfield Scott
  • W. A. Withrow Sr., American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Raleigh County, 1942
  • Pat B. Withrow Jr., American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from West Virginia 6th District, 1954
  • Mary Ellen Withrow (b. 1931), American Democratic Party politician, Marion County Treasurer, 1977-82; Ohio Treasurer of State, 1983-94; Presidential Elector for Ohio, 1992; Treasurer of the United States, 1994
  • Lottie Withrow, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1924
  • Lance B. Withrow, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Fayette County, 1940
  • James Withrow, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for supervisor of Pittsfield Township, Michigan, 1936
  • Kenneth Withrow, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for supervisor of Pittsfield Township, Michigan, 1949
  • Jackie Withrow, American Democratic Party politician, Real estate agent; Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates, 1961-78 (Raleigh County 1961-74, 18th District 1975-78)
  • Gardner Robert Withrow (1892-1964), American politician, Member of Wisconsin State Assembly, 1926-27; U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, 1931-39, 1949-61 (7th District 1931-33, 3rd District 1933-39, 1949-61)
  • ... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Withrow 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: Hope wins a throne
Motto Translation: An anagram of John Winthrop.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X


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