Although some ScotlandsPeople database records start in 1553, Wightons lived in only six parishes that began collecting records before the 1620s. This would lead you to believe that there would be only a few candidates for first Wighton.

Well, there was indeed only one obvious candidate for that honour. However, since I was able draw on other resources in addition to the database, I found 13 early Wightons who lived in Perthshire or Angus and can be presumed to have been born before 1600.

The earliest Wightons:

Not only were there a fair number of Wighton names represented in this list (Wigtoun, Wichtane, Vigtoun, Vichtane, Wychtoun, Wichton, Wigtone, and Wighton), but they were scattered over a wide area. Their seven towns are identified in the map below. I have to stress: this map does not accurately reflect the locations of all of our early Wightons. There had to have been many other Wightons living in Perth and Angus but we just don't happen to have a record of them.

The purpose of the map is just to give you a visual impression of the breadth of the area where Wighton names popped up prior to 1600. You can see that most of the locations are concentrated near the Tay River from Perth, to Kinnoull (red square) to Erroll (yellow square) to Dundee, and to Monifieth (red square) - a total distance of about 25 miles. Coupar Angus (blue square) is about 15 miles inland from Perth and Dundee. Brechin, the green rectangle, is about 50 miles north-east from Perth. I'll give you a much better look at the geographical locations of all of our Early Wightons in another report. Right now, let's learn a little more about our earliest ancestors.

#1: James Wigtoun, our earliest recorded ancestor, appeared in a document dated 1492 (Black, 1946). Apparently James did something to offend the Scottish king because he had his name officially recorded as follows: James Wigtoun apud Dunde had a precept of remission in 1492. In modern English, this becomes James Wighton, at the house of Dundee, received a pardon from the king. For whatever reason that James Wigtoun was pardoned, we can be happy that he was since he represents our first Wighton. I estimated his birth as 1450 but it could be 10 years on either side.

#2: Lowrans Wichtane's name appeared in the Book of the Cistercian Abbey of Coupar Angus (blue square) in 1514 (Dictionary of the Scots Language). The actual entry reads: The half of wmquhyll Dauid Formandis tak ... with the wedvis consent, is set to Lowrans Wichtane. In modern English, it would read: The half of the late David Formandis [unknown]... with the widow's consent, is given to Laurence Wighton. I estimated Lowran's birth as 1470 but it could be 10 years on either side.

#3:William Wichtoun was listed as a resident of Brechin (green square) in 1548 (Black, 1946). We have no way of knowing how old William was when he was living in Brechin. I've guessed that he was born in 1510.

#4: Robert Vigtoun was named as a witness in Perthshire in 1549 (Black, 1946). Assuming that only a well-established man in his community would be asked to serve as a witness, I've guessed that he was born in 1510 but it could be 10 years earlier.

#5: Johne Vichtane married Margery Jaksoun on July 11, 1559 in Errol (yellow square) (ScotlandsPeople Database) I estimated Johne's birth as 1530.

#6: Andrew Wychtoun was the father of two children born in 1570 and 1571 in Perth (ScotlandsPeople Database). I estimated that Andrew's birth could have been around 1540.

#7 and #8: These two unnamed Wychtouns are the children of Andrew Wychtoun. The forenames in Perth's parish records were indecipherable.

#9: Sandi Wichton was recorded as the father of George Wichton (b. Aug. 1, 1602) and Johnn Wichton (b. Oct. 20, 1605) - both born in Monifieth just east of Dundee (red mark) (ScotlandsPeople Database). Sandi's own birth could have been around 1572.

#10: Beatrix Wichtane was our first female Wighton to be mentioned in official records. Like James, our first male, there's a hint of negativity in the 1619 record from the Perth church (Dictionary of the Scots Language). To quote: Beatrix Wichtane and Margaret Neisch ... are found bauld schameles skaldis. A skald is someone who causes a public disturbance through the use of vituperation or abusive language. I think you can make out the full meaning of the entry without further elaboration. Beatrix appeared again in the Perth church records in 1624 but this time as Beatrix Wichtoun. The exact quote was: Beatrix Wichtoun schew that men resortit to hir house for wasching and stiffing of thair ruffis. In modern English... Beatrice Wighton has revealed that men proceed to her house for the washing and starching of their shirt collar/ruffles. We must assume that the church found something wrong with this behaviour. We have no hint of Beatrix's age at the time, but if we make a big assumption that she was in middle age, and perhaps even a widow, her birth could have been around 1575.

#11: Laurence Vichtane had a daughter Issobell on November 11, 1621 in Kinnoull which is just east of Perth. (ScotlandsPeople Database) Laurence's own birth is estimated at 1590.

#12: Patrike Wigtone had a son Johne on January 31, 1622 in Perth (ScotlandsPeople Database). Patrike's own birth was likely around 1590.

#13: William Wighton had a daughter, Elspet, on Feb 16, 1626 in Perth (ScotlandsPeople Database). This is the first sighting of the actual Wighton name in written records. I've estimated William's own birth at 1595.

Sources

Black, George, F. (1946). Surnames of Scotland. Victoria Public Library.

Dictionary of the Scots Language (http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/)

ScotlandsPeople Database (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/)