Surname Wishum - Meaning and Origin
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Wishum: What does the surname Wishum mean?
The last name Wishum is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is thought to have derived from the Old English words “wihs” which means “willow” or “straw”, and “healh” which means “corner” or “nook”. Combined, Wishum means “willow corner” or “straw corner” which axis of geographical origins around arable land or riverbanks near wetlands.
In early English records, Wishum was often used as a personal name and some sources also attribute the surname to be a variant of the “Wiseman” and “Wisemore”. While the origin of the name Wishum remains uncertain, the Wishum family are thought to have likely first established themselves as a family or clan in Nottinghamshire in the Middle Ages and moved south to Sussex.
The Wishums were always a respected family and feature prominently in the history of the county. By 1881, the Wishum surname was recorded in many parts of the United Kingdom, with the highest density in Oxfordshire. Today, it can be found in most English-speaking countries around the world, indicating past migrations.
The Wishum name is an ideal representation of resilience, strength and continuity for those bearing the name as it is interwoven through English history, and its meaning is steeped in the English heritage and roots.
Order DNA origin analysisWishum: Where does the name Wishum come from?
Wishum is a relatively uncommon surname, but it can be found in many different parts of the world today. In the United States, the majority of people with this surname reside in the state of Pennsylvania. In particular, it is most common in western and central Pennsylvania, where there are many towns and cities with individuals who share the last name.
In addition to Pennsylvania, many other countries and regions may also have individuals with the surname Wishum. The United Kingdom has a handful of people with this surname, and Jamaica is said to have a small community of Wishums. Although not widespread, small numbers of Wishums can also be found in other parts of the Americas, including Canada, Mexico, Brazil and other Latin American countries.
Outside of the Americas, Wishum can also be found in other parts of the world. There are small pockets in India and says there are also small signs of this surname in both Africa and the South Pacific islands.
Overall, Wishum is a infrequently used surname, but its reach is further than most people might expect. The exact population of Wishum traditionally has not been tracked, so there is a certain amount of anonymity associated with the name itself. Even so, wherever it is found, this rare surname is a reminder of the families and ancestors that are all connected by the same shared heritage.
Variations of the surname Wishum
The surname Wishum is a patronymic surname of English origin which evolved from the given name Wycha or Wyscha. This given name had several variants including Wythe, Wyrth, Wurt, Wirth, Wurs and Wers. Spellings of the surname related to Wishum across different countries, time periods and translations can differ considerably.
In the United Kingdom, some variants of the Wishum surname include Weisham, Weysham, Wisham, Wiseman, Whisham and Wys Cha (which means Wycha’s son). Variants in the United States often take the form Wiseman, Wishon, Wicham and Wishem, as well as Wischum, Wisheim and Wisemann.
In Ireland, the variants are often slightly adapted to reflect the Gaelic language; these are generally represented by the spelling Visheam, Visum, Visham and Visheim.
In Scotland, Wishum may be represented as Whisham, Wheysham, Whysham, Whitzam, Witzam, Wishesham and Wishems.
In Middle Ages Germany, variants of Wishum included Wisemann and Wysam, with the latter meaning son of Wycha/Wyscha.
In France, Wishum could appear as Wiessen, Witer, Wissel, Wheissen and Weixen.
Ultimately, Wishum is an English surname, but with many global variants reflective of the name's widespread use across different countries and languages.
Famous people with the name Wishum
- Christopher Wishum: American actor best known for his role in Clerks II and Arrested Development.
- Mark Wishum: England cricketer who has appeared in two Twenty20 Internationals in 2020.
- Matthew Wishum: American TV producer and executive.
- Tiffany Wishum: Canadian fashionista and Instagram influencer.
- Charles Wishum: American zoologist and professor at University of California, Berkeley.
- Jocelyn Wishum: American journalist and editor of Carolina Magazine.
- Amos Wishum: American rapper and hip hop producer.
- Vanessa Wishum: English novelist and poet.
- Liesel Wishum: German-born American painter and sculptor.
- Tim Wishum: American stuntman who has appeared in films like Rush Hour 3 and Fantastic Four.