Surname Wishard - Meaning and Origin
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Wishard: What does the surname Wishard mean?
The last name Wishard is of English and Scottish origin and is a variant of the Scottish surname Wischert. It is derived from the Old English words “wi” and “sceard”, meaning “wood-cutter”.
The name Wishard is thought to have come from a family of woodcutters living in England and Scotland in the Middle Ages. The family would have been responsible for cutting down trees and supplying timber for building homes, ships and furniture. As a result, the Wishard family were likely to become quite a wealthy and successful group in the community.
Due to the popularity of the Wishard name, many variations of the spelling have developed over the years. In the United States, some examples include Washard, Wishhardt and Wiseheart.
The Wishard name is also associated with folk dancing. Scottish group dances such as the “Caper Wishard” and “Dancing Wishard” were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, descendants of the Wishard family can be found all over the world. While the exact meaning has been lost, the name serves as a reminder of a family's proud heritage and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisWishard: Where does the name Wishard come from?
The last name Wishard is most commonly found in the United States of America. People with this last name are most likely found in the Midwestern regions, particularly Indiana where it originated. The Wishard family can be found in other states such as Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and even Texas.
In Indiana, Wishard is pronounced more closely to "Wisherd". This spelling comes from the Anglicization of the original name, Wojciechowski. It is spelled this way due to the various Polish immigrants to the states and their script-based languages.
The Wishard family has a rich history in the state of Indiana. Many of the members of the family can be found in the city of Indianapolis, which had a large Polish population at the time of its founding.
The Wishards have long been active contributors to the city, with their members holding various prominent roles, from the political arena to culture and the arts. A number of the Wishards have even been noted photographers of the city.
In the 21st century, the Wishard family is still a recognisable name and can be found in various areas of the United States, particularly in Midwestern cities. It still remains a part of the city's identity, a legacy from the many generations who have built and supported Indianapolis to become the great city it is today.
Variations of the surname Wishard
The Wishard surname originates from the Norman French name de Wischard, most likely from the early French personal name Wischard, derived from the Germanic elements gisil, meaning "hostage" or "noble youth" and hard, meaning "hardy", "brave", or "strong". Originally spelled de Wischard, over time the surname was altered to Wischard, Wissard, Wissart, Wisshard, Wishard, Wishart, and Wisheart.
The Wishard family is believed to have descended from Gilbert de Wischard, who held lands in Somerset, England as early as 1086. As the family migrated to Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and ultimately to the Americas, the spelling of the surname changed to accommodate the various dialects and national languages of the locations they settled.
The first recorded variation of the Wishard surname appeared when William Wisshard arrived in Ireland in the 1600's. Later on, James Wishard settled in Roanoke, Virginia around 1640, and by 1760, the majority of persons with the Wishard surname were found in Virginia.
In Scotland, the Wishard surname was first recorded when William Wisshart, a member of Robert the Bruce's army settled there after the Scottish fought for their independence in 1314. By 1750, the majority of persons with the Wishard surname in Scotland had the spelling Wishart. By 1900, however, the majority of persons with the Wishard surname in Scotland had the spelling Wishard.
The Wishard surname has continued to spread and evolve, as descendants of the family moved to different parts of the world or placed the suffixes "son" or "sen" corresponding to the languages of the area in which they settled. Today, some common variations of the Wishard surname include Whisard, Wisnard, Wishart, Wissort, Wyshart, Wyshard, Wissard, and Wychard.
Famous people with the name Wishard
- Chloe Wishard: British professional swimmer.
- Bert Wishard: American cyclist and the fourth winner of the Tour de France (1904).
- Jared Wishard: American mixed martial artist.
- Wayne Wishard: American football player.
- Martin Wishard: Welsh racing cyclist.
- Joshua Wishard: American soccer player.
- Kenneth Wishard: British actor, best known for appearances in various soap operas and series.
- James Wishard:American composer and conductor.
- Fred Wishard:American actor.
- Owen Wishard: British actor and television presenter.
- John Wishard: American politician from South Carolina.
- Charles Wishard: American physicist, specializing in mathematical vision and image processing.
- Stephen Wishard: British inventor, and amateur actor.
- Andrew Wishard: American TV producer/director and writer.