Origin of the surname Whittall

This name, with variant spellings Whittell and Whitel, is of English locational origin from any of the places thus called, for example Whittle le Woods and Welch Whittle in Lancashire, or either of two places called Whittle in Northumberland, one near Felton and the other in Ovingham. Recorded variously as Witul, Whittle, Whittall, Withull and Wythill in early 13th Century records of the above counties, the name derives from the Old English pre 7th Century 'hwit', meaning white, plus 'hyll', a hill.

The surname was first recorded towards the middle of the 13th Century, (see below). John Whittle of Chorley, Lancashire, was entered in the 'Wills Records at Chester', dated 1581. In some instances, the name may be a dialectal variant of Whitwell, places in Derbyshire, Dorset, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Leicestershire, Wight and the North Riding of Yorkshire. The derivation, in these instances, is from the Old English 'hwit', white and 'wella', a spring or stream; hence, 'dweller by the clear stream'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Withull, who was a witness, which was dated 1242, in the 'Fine Court Rolls of Lancashire', during the reign of King Henry 111, known as 'The Frenchman', 1216 - 1272. 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 Whittall. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of whittall is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. Research into the possible origins of whittall leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname whittall is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.

The surname Whittall around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname whittall. There is a considerable probability that whittall has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where whittall is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname whittall provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Whittall

The historical chronicle of whittall is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named whittall are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname whittall, 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 whittall developed.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname whittall, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of whittall could be modified. 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 whittall and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Whittall

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished whittalls throughout human history. We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname whittall, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname whittall were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname whittall who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Whittall and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of whittall. The bibliography collects information related to the surname whittall, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of whittall 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 whittall, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Whittall