Webster Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Webster Origin:

England

Origins of Name:

The surname of Webster has roots in the Anglo-Saxon origins, and is found all throughout the English countryside, and comes from the occupational name of Webb, which is originally given to a weaver. The derivation of this surname of Webster is from the Old English Pre 7th Century word of “wevva” which was later developed into the Middle English “webbe” which was a derivative of the word “wefan” which can be translated to mean “weaver” or “one who weaves.” This surname is a job-descriptive surname, meaning that the original bearer was one who actually carried out the job, and then the surname became hereditary as time went on.

Variations:

More common variations are:

Webester, Webstter, Webbster, Wewbster, Webaster,Webseter, Websteer, Webswter, Webister

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Webster was in the country of England in the year of 1275. One person by the name of John le Webester, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of King Edward I, who was known as and commonly referred to as “The Hammer of the Scots” and ruled from the year 1272 to the year 1307. Those who bore the surname of Webster and lived in the country of England are found in high concentrations in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire counties.

Scotland:

Those who bear the surname of Webster and live in the country of Scotland can be found around the entire countryside. Those places with in the country of Scotland are in the counties of Angus, Aberdeenshire, and Banffshire.

United States of America:

The European Migration was a movement of people from the European countries who left their homeland in search of a better life. Many of these people went to the United States of America, which at that time was referred to as The New World or The Colonies, because this new land promised the freedoms that they were so hoping for. The first person to bear the surname of Webster and was recorded as arriving in the United States of America was the Webster family. Roger Webster, and his wife Joanne Webster settled in the state of Virginia in the year of 1623. It is possible that someone who bore the surname of Webster tried to make it to the United States of America before the first person who was recorded to land in the United States. The living conditions on the ships used to transport people to the New World were terrible. Many people died en route, and those who did arrive in the United States of America were often suffering from starvation, or riddled with diseases. Those who made it to the new world and prospered passed this surname of Webster on to their children. Those who live in the United States of America that bear the surname of Webster can be found in high concentrations all over the country in various states and parts of the country. The multiple states where those people who carry the surname of Webster are found in large quantities and high concentrations are within the states of Pennsylvania, New York, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, Washington, Michigan, Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland and the southern state of Texas.

Webster Today:

United States 82,985

England 30,469

Australia 13,272

South Africa 10,483

Canada 10,358

Scotland 4,141

New Zealand 2,871

Brazil 1,956

Jamaica 1,196

Wales 1,095

Notable People:

Clarence Howard “Bud” Webster (1952-2016) who was a science fiction and fantasy writer from America

George Amon Webster (1945-2013) who was a baritone vocalist and pianist with the Cathedral Quartet from the year 1969 to the year 1971, who was from America

Patti Webster (1964-2013) who was an entertainment publicist and author who was the representative for notable recording artists, athletes and actors, such as Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Chris Paul, Halle Berry, and Holly Robinson Peete

Howard Webster (1925-2013) who was a world champion steer roper inducted into the PRCA Hall of Fame and National Cowboy Hall of Fame

Nicholas Webster (1912-2006) who was a film and television director from America

Ben Webster (1909-1973) who was an influential jazz musician from America

William Hedgcock Webster (born in 1924) who was the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)from the year 1978 to the year 1987, and was the Director of Central Intelligence from the year 1987 to the year 1991, and was the Chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council from 2006-present

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Battle Abbey, co. Sussex, bart.). Motto—Fides et Justitia. Az. on a bend ar. cotised or, betw. two demi lions ramp. erm. a rose gu. seeded and leaved ppr. betw. two boars’ heads couped sa. langued of the fifth. Crest—A dragon’s head couped reguard. quarterly per fess embattled vert and or, flames issuing from mouth ppr.
2) (co. Chester; John Webster, Alderman of Chester, d. 1601, leaving a dau. Anne, m. Robert Leiche, D.C.L., Chancellor of Chester. Visit. Chester, 1620). Harl. MSS. 2487, in the pedigree of Leiche, of Carden, the following is given for the coat of Webster: Ar. a cross patonce betw. four mullets sa. In another part of the MS. it is again ascribed to Webster, and by its side this coat is given also for Webster: Az. on a bend engr. ar. betw. two demi lions ramp. of the second a boar’s head couped sa. betw. two roses gu. seeded or. Crest, for both coats—A dragon’s head erased quarterly per fess indented or and az
3) (co. Chester; John Webster, Alderman of Chester, d. 1601, leaving a dau. Anne, m. Robert Leiche, D.C.L., Chancellor of Chester. Visit. Chester, 1620). Harl. MSS. 2487, in the pedigree of Leiche, of Carden, the following is given for the coat of Webster: Ar. a cross patonce betw. four mullets sa. In another part of the MS. it is again ascribed to Webster, and by its side this coat is given also for Webster: Az. on a bend engr. ar. betw. two demi lions ramp. of the second a boar’s head couped sa. betw. two roses gu. seeded or. Crest, for both coats—A dragon’s head erased quarterly per fess indented or and az
4) (Flamborough, co. York; confirmed to William Webster by St. George, Norroy, 1603. Visit. York, 1612. William Webster, of London, became the representative of this family upon the death of his cousin in 1670, from whom are descended the Websters, of Penns, co. Warwick). Az. five swans in cross ar. beaked gu. legged sa. betw. four annulets or. Ancient Arms—Sa. a bend wavy and a star of five points in chief both ar. Crest—A swan’s head erased ar. beaked gu. holding in the beak an annulet or.
5) (Flamborough, co. York; confirmed to William Webster by St. George, Norroy, 1603. Visit. York, 1612. William Webster, of London, became the representative of this family upon the death of his cousin in 1670, from whom are descended the Websters, of Penns, co. Warwick). Az. five swans in cross ar. beaked gu. legged sa. betw. four annulets or. Ancient Arms—Sa. a bend wavy and a star of five points in chief both ar. Crest—A swan’s head erased ar. beaked gu. holding in the beak an annulet or.
6) (Penns, co. Warwick, formerly of cos. Cambridge, Essex, and Huntingdon; Henry VIII. granted to John Webster, who had large estates in the latter cos.). Motto—Veritas puritas. Az. five swans close in cross ar. betw. four annulets or. Crest: A swan’s neck erased ar. beaked gu. in the beak an annulet or.
7) (co. Essex). Az. on a bend engr. betw. two demi lions ramp. ar. a rose gu. seeded or, barbed vert, enclosed by as many boars’ heads couped sa.
8) (St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London). Ar. a fess betw. three weavers’ shuttles gu. tipped and furnished with quills of yarn or. Crest—A leopard’s head erased affrontee, crowned with an antique crown ppr. with a shuttle in the mouth, as in the arms.
9) (London). Ar. on a chev. az. betw. three caltraps sa. as many annulets or.
10) (PaIlion Hall, co. Durham). Motto—Fides et industria. Az. on a bend ar. cotised or, betw. two demi lions ramp. erm. a rose gu. seeded and leaved ppr. enclosed by two boars’ heads couped sa. langued of the fifth. Crest—A dragon’s head couped quarterly per fess vert and or, flames issuing from the mouth ppr.
11) (Secretary to Charles, second Duke of Bolton, E.G., Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1699-1701). Or, a lion ramp. az. armed and langued gu. betw. three mullets of six points of the second.
12) (Wedderburn-Webster; Sir James Wedderburn-Webster, of Clapham, co. Surrey, 1811, originally Wedderburn, descended of Blackness). Mottoes—In Deo spero; and, Non degener. Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ar. a fess betw. three weavers’ shuttles gu. tipped and furnished with quills of yarn or, for Webster; 2nd and 3rd, ar. a chev. betw. three roses gu. barbed vert, for Wedderburn. Crest—An eagle’s head erased ppr. Supporters—A lion and a stag, each ppr. collared and chained gu. and holding in its mouth a thistle ppr.
13) Sa. a cross botonnee betw. four mullets ar.
14) (co. Rutland. Visit. Rutland, 1618). Or, a chev. engr. gu. betw. two torteaux in chief and a cross pattee in base of the second.