My mother was Hannah Lillian WITHELL born in Hamilton Vic Australia. I began to look for her Cornish ancestors in 1984, building on the Australian research done in the early 1970's by my cousin Merrick Withell of Brisbane. Since then a number of other researchers worldwide have contributed.

 

 

CORNWALL

The worldwide search for LOST WITHELLS began when it was realized that although variations of the byname Withiel occurred in CORNWALL from as early as 1200, and had established in several areas as a hereditary surname, by 1990 there were no Withells living in that county. Here was a surname with a history in one area of at least 700 years, which at that point in time had completely disappeared from Cornwall. I am constructing a separate website to include the history of this family.

YORKSHIRE

It soon became apparent that not all present day Withells worldwide have Cornish ancestry. A large group of Withells who have traced their roots to YORKSHIRE in about 1780, are spread throughout England and Canada, New Zealand and Australia. There are also some WITHILLS belonging to this family line which I have added to the 'tree'.

As far as I know, this is the only composite database for Yorkshire Withells. It is certainly not complete and I would welcome further input and checking.

SUSSEX to DURHAM

The descent of a small group of present day Withells has been traced to a George WITHALL from Heyshott in Sussex who moved from Sussex to DURHAM in 1857. I have also now been contacted by several other descendants of WITHALL from Sussex.

DEVON and SOMERSET

Chancery Proceedings and Parish records indicate that there were a small number of Withells living in these counties from about 1550. However by 1750 the spelling as Withell and Withall became more usual. One is recorded as estate manager to the Drake family of Buckland Abbey and there has been considerable research into the Withall/Withell family from the LYMPSTONE area who were mariners involved in the Newfoundland cod fishing trade in the 1700's. The family owned and operated their own ships, and were merchants in the triangular trade : the cod being sold for wine and fresh fruit in the southern Mediterranean countries, Portugal, Spain and Italy.


As more records become available we may find other groups.