Surname Witherington - Meaning and Origin
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Witherington: What does the surname Witherington mean?
Witherington is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is a geographical or locational name, derived from a place name. There are places named Witherington and Winteringham in England. The 'ton' or 'ing' part is an old English language word, meaning 'settlement' or 'enclosure'. The 'Wider' or 'Wintra' part could likely originate from a personal name. Thus, Witherington could mean 'settlement of Wider's people' or 'settlement of Wintra's people'.
Over centuries, the name might have undergone spelling variations. Surnames often provided a connection to a person's occupation, place of residence, or even a nickname. The surname Witherington might have been first given to the head of a family who lived in one of the areas called Witherington or Winteringham. As with many surnames, additional research is required to unearth the exact or the earliest derivation, due to various regional influences and historical changes in language and spelling.
Order DNA origin analysisWitherington: Where does the name Witherington come from?
The last name Witherington is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are roughly 1,539 Witheringtons currently living within the United States. It is most prevalent in the states of Florida and Texas, with 336 and 302 Witherington households respectively, followed by Georgia (113 households) and then North Carolina (90 households).
The origin of the name originates from the old English word ‘withere’, meaning ‘withered’ or ‘diminished’, which became Witherington as a surname. It is thought to have first appeared in counties located in the southern part of Britain such as Yorkshire, Bristol, Kent, Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire.
The distribution of households suggests that the Witherington name has steadily migrated to the south and west of Britain over the years, making its way eventually to North America during the great migration period of the 1700s and 1800s. As a result, the name is more prevalent in the United States and Canada today.
The Witherington last name is therefore an example of how families from long ago relocated and often switched continents. As evidenced by the United States Census results, the Witherington family name is still alive and well among Americans today.
Variations of the surname Witherington
The surname Witherington is of English origin. Variants of this surname include Widdrington, Widrington, Wetherington, Wetherell, Wetherelt and Weatherill. Spellings of this surname can range from Witherington, Wtherington, and Wetherington.
Widdrington is a variant of Witherington which dates back to the 12th century. It first appeared in records in the 12th-century when there were a number of bearers of this name recorded in the north East of England.
Wetherell is a variant of Wetherington which is derived from the Old English words ‘wether’ or ‘wethe’ which translates to ram or sheep and ‘inga’ meaning people who live in a area that is associated with a particular species of livestock.
Weatherill is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Fiaich, which is derived from the Irish word fia, meaning ‘wolf’. This surname is found mostly in Ireland; it was a term of endearment or an implied compliment to the fertility of a family. Weatherill and Wetherington are sometimes used interchangeably.
The surname Witherington is no longer commonly found in modern records, but its variants and spellings are still used in many regions. Most of the variants of the name tend to be concentrated in the North East of England, and in Ireland is associated mostly with the Weatherill spelling.
Famous people with the name Witherington
- Dimick Witherington: American football coach
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- Kimberly Witherington: Professional Tennis Player
- Marie Witherington: Artist
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- Petula Witherington: Musician
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- Wilson Witherington: Actor, director, stuntman
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- Milton Witherington: Politician
- Earl Witherington: NFL Player
- Garfield Witherington: Historian
- Judith Witherington: Children's book author
- Rebecca Witherington: Makeup Artist
- Jessica Witherington: Professional Dancer
- Ethel Witherington: Singer and Performer