Surname Whatmore - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Whatmore: What does the surname Whatmore mean?
The last name Whatmore is of Anglo-Saxon origin, suggesting that the name holders may have Norman roots. It is thought to have derived from the Old English pre 7th Century personal name Wcetmor, a compound of 'wcet', meaning 'wet', and 'mor', a moor or marshy land. This name would have originally been given to somebody who resided in a marshy area or who was sometimes associated with one. It is believed that the first people to use this last name were primarily found in the county of Wiltshire, England.
It is likely that the Canons of Sarum in Wiltshire held lands in Whatmore in the 13th century, where a settlement was most likely established. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1296 and in Suffolk in the Feet of Fines from the same century. As such, it is possible to trace the name's roots to South West England and East Anglia and it is still mainly found in those areas today.
The meaning of the surname Whatmore is thought to connote 'one who lived in a wet place'. It is possible that members of this family held occupations related to the marshy land that the surname could come from - such as a reed or cane grower, or a bog farmer. Ultimately, any connection with such land would have provided a source of income and enabled the family to survive and prosper.
Order DNA origin analysisWhatmore: Where does the name Whatmore come from?
The last name Whatmore is commonly found today in the United Kingdom, particularly in the south of England. It is an English surnames derived from Old English and means 'the abode of a man named Hwita'.
In the mid 19th century the name Whatmore was found mainly in the county of Midlands, although there were a few occurrences elsewhere in England and Wales. Today, most Whatmores live in the South East of England in London, Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, Hampshire and Surrey.
The most numerous Whatmore family in the UK today have resided in Essex since the late 17th century. The earliest record of this family dates back to the mid 16th century in London. It is likely that the family moved to Essex from the London area in search of work opportunities.
It is thought that the Whatmore family may have originated in the Netherlands and settled in England during the 13th century, when large numbers of Dutchmen moved to the British Isles. Given their Dutch links, it is not surprising to find a large concentration of Whatmores in East Anglia and around London.
Outside of the UK, Whatmore is also a very common surname in Australia. The first record of the Whatmore family in Australia dates back to the mid 19th century when William Whatmore arrived in Victoria. Since then, his male descendants have significantly contributed to the fabric of Australian life in fields as diverse as the military, judiciary and the arts.
Variations of the surname Whatmore
The surname Whatmore appears to have English origins, though it is not a particularly common name. There are a few other variant spellings of the name that have been identified, as well as some related surnames that may have the same origin.
The variants of Whatmore include Whateler, Watmower, Watmoore, Wattmore, and Whitehorne. These alternative spellings suggest that this name was likely subject to the inconsistencies and difficulties of transcribing names before the development of standardized spelling conventions in the 19th century.
The related surnames of the same origin include Watmore, Whitmore, Whetmor, and Whittemore. These are similar in spelling but it's unclear whether these names derived from any one of the Whatmore variants before eventually becoming established by different families as distinct surnames.
There may be other related names or spellings out there, since many of these names have a long history and may have changed significantly in different parts of the world or over the centuries. Similarly, while some of these names may have a single origin, it could be that multiple families adopted similar surnames independently.
In conclusion, the surname Whatmore appears to have a few variants, spellings and related surnames of the same origin. Most of these fall into the category of phonetic variations which may have occurred before the establishment of standard spellings. However, many of these names could have a single ancestry and further research may be necessary to trace the origin of the name in more detail.
Famous people with the name Whatmore
- Paul Whatmore: English music composer, multi-instrumentalist, and song writer.
- Iain Whatmore: British racing driver, competing in touring car and sportscar championships.
- Libby Whatmore: British former professional table tennis player
- Mike Whatmore: Former Australian rules footballer
- Jason Whatmore: British former professional cycling racer
- Pam Whatmore: British actress
- Richard Whatmore: British historian
- John Whatmore: former English professional footballer
- David Whatmore: Zimbabwean cricketer
- Ernest Whatmore: Australian professional golfer
- Campbell Whatmore: Australian racing driver
- Frances Whatmore: English theatre and television actress
- Rob Whatmore: American sportscaster
- Nigel Whatmore: Australian cricketer
- Ray Whatmore: Australian former professional rugby league footballer
- Chris Whatmore: Australian former professional rugby league footballer