Surname Wishart - Meaning and Origin

Wishart: What does the surname Wishart mean?

The last name Wishart is thought to have originated in Scotland during medieval times. It was derived from the personal name Wisgar which is thought to have been derived from the Old English elements wisc (wise) and gār (spear). During Scotland’s time under Norman rule, many natives adopted French sounding surnames and as such, many variations of the name began appearing, such as: Wisehart, Wisheart, and Wischard.

The name Wishart can also refer to people who are descendants of those from the barony of Wishart, which is an ancient barony in Fife, Scotland. The barony was held by the Wishart family until the late 15th century when it passed to the Hays; it remains with them to this day.

The Wishart family has a long and distinguished history in Scotland. John Wishart was a noted theologian with close ties to John Knox. Several of the Wishart family served as High Constables of Scotland, including Jock Wishart who was a leader of the Covenanter force during the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679.

The surname Wishart thus speaks to a long and noteworthy history, one that speaks to service, loyalty, and wisdom. It is truly an honorable surname with a proud heritage.

Wishart: Where does the name Wishart come from?

The Wishart surname is most common today in Scotland, particularly in the north-east, where it is one of the twenty most common surnames. It is also reasonably common in England and Wales, especially in the south-east. Outside the British Isles, the surname can be found in countries including Canada and Australia, where it was brought by Scottish settlers.

The earliest recorded use of the name in Scotland dates back to 1220 in Fife, where Hugo de Wichard witnessed a charter. The surnames Wishart or Wisheart are both derived from the name Wilschet which means 'desiring peace'.

In Scotland, many places still have the Wishart suffix, for example Wishaw in Lanarkshire, and Wishaw Castle which was built by the Wisharts of Craignethan in the 13th century. Sir Patrick Wishart, a lawyer and politician who founded the University of St Andrews in 1410 was an important member of his Scottish family.

The Wishart surname is also associated with notable clans in Scotland, including the Clan Cameron, who are said to be distant cousins of the Wisharts, and have the same tartan.

Variations of the surname Wishart

The Scottish and Irish surnames Wishart, Wisheart, Wyshart, Wisehart, Weshart, Whishart, Wishard, Wichart and Wishard come from an Old English name, 'Wigheard', which was derived from the words 'wig', meaning 'war', and 'heard', meaning 'hardy'. Wisharts trace their ancestral roots back to the Norse/Danish aristocracy in Scotland and the most notable line of Wisharts is probably that descended from the medieval lordship of Brechin in Angus. It is believed that the earliest recorded spelling of the name was that of Hugo Viscard, which appears in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Wisharts have also been variously known as Wishearts and Wyshearts in Scotland, and Wishearts, Geshearts and Wheart in Ireland. In England, the surname is generally recorded as Wishart, Wishard or Wichert.

Early entries in the known historical record of the surname Wishart include William Widcard, recorded in the 1296 Rotuli Scotiae document listing Scottish noblemen, Hugo Wishard, who was documented in Nottinghamshire, England in the year 1379 in the register of the Poll Tax, and Thomas Whiskhard, given in the register of Aberdeen landholders in 1603.

In recent times, the Wishart spelling is most often seen in the United States and other overseas locations, with many of the Wishart lines in Scotland and Ireland having died out by this point. Today, Wisharts are active in all parts of the world, but the most concentrations of the surname are seen in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States.

Famous people with the name Wishart

• Bruce Wishart: Former MP for Wishart in Scotland
• Scott Wishart: Scottish Liberal Democrat Politician
• Gary Wishart: Scottish Highland Football League Referee
• Raymond Wishart: English actor
• Duncan Wishart: Canadian Musician
• Bill Wishart: English Footballer
• Ed Wishart: English Footballer
• Colin Wishart: Australian Politician
• Felix Wishart: Scottish Gaelic Braid Singer
• Kenny Wishart: Scottish Footballer
• David Wishart: Scottish Novelist and Historian
• William Wishart: US Congressman
• Adam Wishart: British Documentary Filmaker
• Morag Wishart: Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament
• Mike Wishart: English Jazz Saxophonist and Composer
• Guy Wishart: New Zealand Musician and Songwriter
• Mark Wishart: British Composer
• Sir Thomas Wishart: British Coloniser in Australia
• John Hamilton Wishart: Scottish Historian
• John Wishart: Scottish Painter

Other surnames

WishamWishard