Wittmann History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of WittmannWhat does the name Wittmann mean? Wittmann is a name whose history dates far back into the mists of early British times to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is a name for a person with a pale complexion or blond hair. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. The name means "white man" 1 as far back as the 13th century when the poem Piers Plowman, (line 5195) notes "a Wightman of strengthe." 2 Alternatively, the name could have been a baptismal name as in 'the son of Wigmann.' "I strongly suspect the baptismal origin is the correct one. " 3 Early Origins of the Wittmann familyThe surname Wittmann was first found in Oxfordhire. The variant Witmar (a personal name) was found in the Domesday Book of 1086. 4 Withman (d. 1047?), Abbot of Ramsey, called also Leucander and Andrew, was a German by birth. 5 Other early listings of the name or one of its variants include: Witeman fugitius who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1170; William Witman who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Kent in 1230; Richard Wyteman who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1243; and Stephen Whytman who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1243. 6 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Agnes Wyteman in Oxfordshire; John Wyteman in Cambridgeshire; Thomas Wyteman in Oxfordshire and William Wytman in Huntingdonshire. 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Johannes Wyghman, Willelmus Wyghman, and Johannes Wyghman as all holding lands there at that time. 3 The Scottish connection should now be explored. "Gilbert Wichtmann was rector of Lyne in 1527, and John Wychtman rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the burgh of Peebles in 1563. Thomas Vychtman was witness in Perthshire, 1547, John Waichtman appears in Melrose, 1606. " 7 Early History of the Wittmann familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wittmann research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1544, 1566, 1612, 1631, 1688, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wittmann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wittmann Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Wittmann has been recorded under many different variations, including Whiteman, Whitman, Wightman, Whyteman and others. Early Notables of the Wittmann familyNotables of the family at this time include Edward Wightman (1566-1612), an English Baptist, executed at Lichfield for his views and was the last person to be burned at the stake for heresy in England. "He is said to have... Wittmann RankingIn France, the name Wittmann is the 6,665th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 8 Migration of the Wittmann family to IrelandSome of the Wittmann family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Wittmann or a variant listed above: Wittmann Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Wittmann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Wittmann Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
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