Recorded in several spelling forms from the relatively popular Wishart and Wisker or Whisker, to more remote forms including Wishkar, Wiskar, Wesker, Whiscard, and Wysard, this is an English surname. It is however of pre 7th century Old Norse and later Norman French origins. In ancient times it was a personal name, becoming a surname from abouth the 12th century. It derives from the words 'viscr', meaning wise, which became 'wisc' in Norman French, with the addition of '(h)ard' meaning brave or bold.
It appears first in England in the famous Domesday Book of 1086 where there are several entries including those of two landowners Wiscar and Wisgar, both of the county of Suffolk, and Wisgarus, a latinized spelling from the county of Essex. Later examples taken from surviving charter recordIngs include those of Nicholas Wiscard of in the Hundred Rolls of Shropshire in 1273, and Richard Wiscart of Sussex in 1327. Examples taken from surviving church registers include those of John Wishart, who married Elizabeth Farr, at Stepney in the city of London on February 11th 1703, and George Redpath who married Charlotte Whisker at St. Georges chapel, Hanover Square, Westminster, on July 1st 1805. It is said that the name has been recorded in various forms in New York from the 18th century. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Wiscard. This was dated 1162, in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Surrey during the reign of King Henry 11nd of England, 1154-1189. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Research into the possible origins of wishart 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 wishart is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of wishart.
There is a considerable probability that wishart 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 wishart is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname wishart provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
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 wishart 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 wishart, 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 wishart developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname wishart.
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 wishart 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 wishart and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname wishart, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname wishart were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname wishart, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname wishart who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname wishart, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of wishart are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of wishart.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of wishart, and at the same time, of surnames in general.