Surname Wygynton - Meaning and Origin
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Wygynton: What does the surname Wygynton mean?
The last name Wygynton is a relatively uncommon English surname with origins from the Midlands region of the United Kingdom. The name likely derives from one of three places: Wigington in Nottinghamshire, Wiginton in Lincolnshire, or Wyhington in Warwickshire.
The name was first found in records in the 12th century when it was used as a first name by several people. It comes from the Old English wordwig, which means “strife,” combined with the Old English ing, which is an adjective meaning “connected with,” and tun which means “enclosure.”
This Old English combination of words describes a person who was “connected with strife” or a place of “strife-enclosure.” It could possibly describe a place of conflict or a difficult situation, or an area of land that was surrounded by strife.
The surname could also be associated with military duties, as “wiging” was often used as an Old English term for military organisation. It is possible that Wygynton was a family name from a soldier or warrior.
Overall, the surname Wygynton is likely to have been derived from one of three places in the Midlands, or from a difficult situation or military duties. This last name is likely to have several possible meanings, but the most likely suggestion is that it is associated with conflict or warfare.
Order DNA origin analysisWygynton: Where does the name Wygynton come from?
The last name Wygynton is relatively uncommon, both in the present day and historically. Records of individuals of the name have been found in England, Scotland, Australia, and the United States.
In England, the name Wygynton can be traced as far back as the 13th century in County Durham. The name was likely derived from an Old English word, meaning “willow” or “withe” – a type of wood.
In Scotland, individuals with the last name Wygynton date as far back as the 16th century, when the name was commonly found in the counties of Renfrew, Roxburgh, and Midlothian.
In Australia, the name Wygynton is most common around certain cities such as Melbourne and Sydney, and in some rural areas. The first known bearer of the name in Australia arrived in 1883.
In the United States, the name Wygynton is uncommon. Records of individuals with the name can be found in various states, but it is mainly clustered around the Pennsylvania/Texas/Oregon region.
Today, the name Wygynton is still relatively uncommon worldwide, with fewer than 2,000 individuals with the surname living in the United States. However, its history still remains alive through those who are proud to bear it – and to carry its legacy through present day.
Variations of the surname Wygynton
Wygynton is a rare English surname, derived from the Old French phrase ‘wigantone’ meaning ‘from the estate of the giants’. It is believed to be a locational name of Anglo-Saxon origin. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Wyginton, Wykinton, Weykington, Wiginton, Wiggington and Weyginton.
The earliest record of this surname can be found in knightly families who owned farms and estates in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Cheshire in the 11th and 12th centuries. By the 15th century, these estates had become much larger and concentrated in the eastern coastal regions of England.
Overseas, there are established Wygynton family lines in the United States and Australia, although the surname is still relatively rare.
The surname can be found in some prominent English places, such as Wygynton Manor in Nottinghamshire, Wygynton Street in London, and Wiggington village in the county of Buckinghamshire. Wygginton is also used as a place name in Yorkshire, but this is thought to be a variant of the original Wygynton spelling.
The name Wygynton is often spelled differently in documents from the same period. Over time, spelling variations of the surname may have been affected by dialectical differences or lack of literacy. Common alternate spellings include Wiggeton, Wigenton, Wigginton, Wijnington, Wigetting, Wigoten and Wygiton.
Despite the various spellings, descendants of Wygynton often still relate the name to its original geography and history.
Famous people with the name Wygynton
- Henry Wigston: an English poet, playwright, and author.
- Gene Wygant: an American TV producer and director known for his work on such shows as "The Tonight Show and "Law and Order".
- Wally Wygant: an American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1941 to 1953.
- Julius Wygant: an American film editor known for his work on 'Gone with the Wind' (1939), 'Destry Rides Again' (1939), and 'Escape from Fort Bravo' (1953).
- Tom Wygton: an English actor known for his work on such films as 'Murder on the Orient Express' (1974), 'A Clockwork Orange' (1971), and 'The Deer Hunter' (1978).
- Nathaniel Wygston: an English philosopher and author of several books on metaphysics and theosophy.
- Robert Wygston: an American musician, composer, and director known for creating the music for films such as 'Pearl Harbor' (2001), 'The Patriot' (2000), and 'Troy' (2004).
- Victoria Wygston: an English actress known for her work in the television series 'Emmerdale' (2005-2007).
- Theodore Wygston: an English author who wrote several books on philosophy and religion.
- John Wygston: an English politician who served as Member of Parliament for the Borough of Newark-on-Trent from 1625 to 1626.