Surname Whisant - Meaning and Origin

Whisant: What does the surname Whisant mean?

The last name Whisant is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the surname Westcot or Wiscot. This surname was generally given to people who lived near a westcot, which was a roadside shelter or shanty. The word 'westcot' might also be derived from a Middle English word meaning 'to cut timber'.

When a person was given the surname Westcot, or Wiscot, it usually meant that their primary job was that of a woodsman. These woodsmen would fell trees and transport them to nearby farms and homesteads. The surname Whisant could also have derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for a 'wood cutter' or 'wood chopper'.

Given its Anglo-Saxon origin, the surname Whisant dates back to the times before recorded history, when most people would have had an occupation related to the ownerships of land and forests. Today, people with the surname Whisant can be found all across the world. In the United States, the surname is the most common in the states of Tennessee and Arkansas, but can also be found in several other states.

Overall, the last name Whisant translates to 'wood cutter' or 'wood chopper' and was originally used to denote a specific occupation in medieval England. Although the name has changed somewhat since those days, people with the Whisant surname are still employed within the timber industry.

Whisant: Where does the name Whisant come from?

The Whisant surname is of German origin. People with the Whisant last name were living in Austria in the 1500s and 1600s. Today, Whisant is a much less common name. According to the US Census, the Whisant population is estimated to be only about 2,000 people.

Most Whisants living today can be found in the United States. It is most common in Idaho and Montana, with states like Texas, Arizona, Colorado, New York, and even Hawaii having Whisants living there.

The Whisant surname is also somewhat of a hidden gem in Switzerland, Belgium, and France. Very few Whisants live in those countries, so it is believed that any Whisants found there migrated more recently in recent centuries.

In some cases, people with the Whisant last name have changed their surname to other names to make it easier to spell or pronounce. This includes spelling variations like Whisont, Wysant, and Wichsant, among others.

The Whisant name is likely to remain as it is only a small population of 2,000 people. It is interesting to note that people with the Whisant last name are scattered all over the world, making it an interesting surname to trace.

Variations of the surname Whisant

Whisant is a surname of French origin, originating from the word "voisin", which means neighbor.

Variants and spellings of the surname Whisant include:

- Voisin

- Voyson

- Voisinet

- Voyssenet

- Voysin

- Voyssene

- Whisson

- Vwisant

- Voisant

- Whysant

Surnames related to Whisant that have similar origin and/or pronunciation include:

- Voisine

- Voisinot

- Voycey

- Wisot

- Voshon

- Voisinnet

- Voisaman

- Voysinnet

- Vyssot

- Wisent

- Wissant

Variants and spellings of the surname Whisant with English laurels include:

- Wissen

- Wissent

- Wisentt

- Wysant

- Wysen

- Wysent

- Wiseant

The spelling of Whisant in Germanic regions of Europe is often seen as Wichtmann or Wichmann.

Variants of the Whisant surname can also be seen in countries of central and eastern Europe such as Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, where the family name is referred to as Visnjic or Visnic.

Famous people with the name Whisant

• Candi Cazau Whisnant: a professional American actress, singer-songwriter and TV presenter.
• Tim Whisnant: an American professional baseball player.
• Mark Whisnant: an American professional race car driver.
• Deana Whisnant: an American artist, producer and writer.
• Aquilla Whisnant: an American polio survivor and author.
• Bence Whisnant: an American classical pianist.
• Terry Whisnant: an American country music singer-songwriter.
• Ryan Whisnant: an American former professional basketball player.
• David Whisnant: an American college basketball coach.
• Kyle Whisnant: a former American NASCAR driver.
• Will Whisnant: an American artist and sculptor.
• Monama Whisnant: a South African artist.
• Blaine Whisnant: an American professional auto racer.
• K.W. Whisnant: a United States Army general.
• Courtney Whisnant: an American director and scriptwriter.

Other surnames

Whisanant