Origin of the surname Washington

This famous surname is of Olde English and Anglo-Saxon pre 7th century origins. It is locational, and usually descends from the town of Washington in County Durham or occasionally from the similarly named village in the county of West Sussex. Both places are recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, and according to the late Professor Ekwall they both translate as " the settlement of the Wassa people". The word 'wassa' itself means 'hunting'and this suggests logically that in both cases the meaning is "the hunting lodge" or similar.

Locational surnames were given firstly to the lord of the manor, and then to people who left the area and took up residence in a new place. Early examples of the surname recording include Robert de Wasshington, in the charters of Lancashire in 1395, and John Washington, in the rolls of the Lancashire Assize court, in 1401. Other examples are those of Laurence Wasshington who in 1567 was recorded as being a student at Oxford University, whilst in 1605 Philip Washington was listed as being a "Freeman of the city of York". John Washington, whose great, great, grandson George was the first President of the United States, emigrated "during the usurpation of England by Oliver Cromwell in 1657". The family were the original owners of Washington in Durham, although they moved south to Northamptonshire in the 16th century. The coat of arms associated with the family is a silver shield with two red bars, in chief three red mullets. The crest being out of a gold ducal coronet, a raven, wings endorsed proper. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph de Wassingeton, which was dated 1327, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Sussex", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Washington. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

The history of the surname washington is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of washington. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname washington is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.

The surname Washington around the world

It is common for surnames like washington to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname washington provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Washington

The historical journey of the surname washington can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of washington. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname washington, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of washington developed.

You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname washington, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about washington and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Washington

Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all washingtons who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname washington were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.

The surname Washington and its bibliographic sources

It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname washington. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of washington are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of washington, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Washington