Whyman

Recorded in a wide variety of spelling forms including Wyman, Wymann, Whyman, Wayman, Whayman, Whaymand, Whaymond, Weyman and Weymont, this ancient surname is Olde English, and of pre 7th century a.d. origins. It derives from the medieval given name "Wymund", a development of the much earlier "Wigmund", which was composed of the elements "wig" meaning war, and "mund", protection. This gives a literal meaning of "War-Protector", what today would be considered an unusual name for a baby, although the literal meaning fifteen hundred years ago, may well have been quite different. It is said that the Vikings also had their form of "Wigmundr", and no doubt over the centuries the two intermixed. The famous Domesday Book of the year 1086 records one "Wimundus of Norfolk", a wealthy landowner of the time. Theearly examples of the name recording as a surname include Robert Weymund, in the "Hundred Rolls" for Cambridgeshire in 1279, and William Wayman in the 1337 rolls of Devonshire. Other recordings from the later church registers include Alice Wyman, who married John Barbor on June 14th 1574 at St. John's, Timberhill, Norwich, and John Whaymand, a witness at St Botolph's without Aldgate, London, on Aoril 2nd 1792. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Alan Wymand, which was dated 1275, in the "Subsidy Rolls" for Worcestershire, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 'The Hammer of the Scots', 1272-1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.