Surname Wimpsett - Meaning and Origin

Wimpsett: What does the surname Wimpsett mean?

The last name Wimpsett is of English origin and is believed to be a locational surname usually referring to a village called Wimpestead or Wimpstead. It is believed to have derived from the title of a Baron of the Exchequer, William de Wympsete, who lived in Buckinghamshire during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Old English words “wince”, which means meadow and “stede”, which means dwelling.

Later, the Wimpsett surname made its way to the United States, appearing in records from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. During this time, people with the last name Wimpsett were mainly found in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The Wimpsett surname is a sign of an old family with a long, storied past. Those who carry the Wimpsett name today can take pride in the fact that they are connected to a deep-rooted history of people who have lived in the United Kingdom since the 14th century.

Wimpsett: Where does the name Wimpsett come from?

The last name Wimpsett is most commonly found in England today. It originated in Saxon times and was first found in Cheshire and Lancashire. From there, the name spread to Nottingham, Derbyshire, Warwickshire and other parts of the Midlands. It has been suggested that the name may have derived from the Old English words wimpelstod or wimbledon meaning a settlement by a bend in a hill.

In the 18th century, we see records of Wimpsetts in Birmingham, Warwickshire and Solihull, as well as in various other Midlands counties. Records from the 19th century onwards indicate that a significant number of the Wimpsetts living in England during this period had migrated from Cheshire and Lancashire. This migration appears to have continued into the 20th century with Wimpsetts found throughout England, but particularly in the north of the country.

Today, it appears that the Wimpsetts are most heavily represented in the Midlands. Within this region, Warwickshire and Leicestershire are the counties with the highest numbers. According to genealogical records from the 1881 census, Wimpsett is the 63rd most common surname in Leicestershire, and the 117th most common in Warwickshire. Over the past century, the name has also spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland and Wales.

Variations of the surname Wimpsett

The surname Wimpsett, which is of English origin, has several spelling variations and variants. The same surname can also be spelled as Wimsett, Wimpesey, Wimpesy, Wimpsay, Wimpsey, Wimpesay, Wympesey, Wympesy, Wympesay, Wympsay, and Wympsey. It can also be seen in many other forms such as Wimp, Wymps, Wimps, Wymp, Wapsett, Whimpsey, Wimpey, Wimpes, and Wymps.

The surname Wimpsett likely has two main origins. The first is that it may derive from the Old English personal names Wighelm and Sighelm, both of which were used for members of the same family during the Middle Ages. The second theory is that the surname is a variant of the Scottish names Wimsat and Wimsatt, which were primarily used as a nickname for a person who was described as “stubborn” or “persistent.”

The earliest recorded usage of the Wimpsett surname dates back to 1296, when a Johannes Wympsay is listed in the Assize Court Rolls of Sussex. The name continued to spread, and by the late 1400s the Wimpsett family is found throughout the south of England in counties such as Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and the City and County of Bristol.

The variant and alternative spellings of Wimpsett are still seen in England today, as well as in countries where the family has migrated, such as Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand.

Famous people with the name Wimpsett

• Robin Wimpsett: British actor, best known for his roles in the TV series The Bill and dramas such as Minder and Highlander.
• Francesca Annis: English actress who is known for her roles in the films Bleak House and Dune. Her father was English actor Ernest Wimpsett.
• Belinda Wimpsett: British actress and TV presenter who appeared in numerous films, television programs and theatre productions.
• Gail Force: British actress and model who appeared in television programs such as EastEnders, Doctor Who, and The Likely Lads. Her father was English actor Henry Wimpsett.
• Jenna Wimpsett: British actress who starred in the hit films Elf and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
• Nicholas Wimpsett: British film and television director whose credits include acclaimed films such as In the Name of Love and Comedy Lab.
• Robert Wimpsett: British screenwriter and producer whose credits include the movie Life on the Line and television shows such as That '70s Show.
• Nick Wimpsett: British actor and comedian who appeared in films such as The Full Monty and Brassed Off. His father is English actor, writer and director Robert Wimpsett.
• Thomas Wimpsett: English actor and comedian who appeared in films such as The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove.
• Daisy Wimpsett: English child actor famous for her appearance in the British comedy series Bottom.

Other surnames

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