The Washington Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Washington, its origins in England, and the story behind a Washington family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Washington coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Washington name
Washington is a habitational name from Washington in County Durham, recorded in Old English as Wassingatūn, "settlement of Wassa's people"; a village of the same name in West Sussex may account for some bearers. A family named from the Durham village later moved south to Lancashire and Northamptonshire. In the United States the name is now borne mainly by African Americans, many of whose ancestors chose it after emancipation in honour of George Washington.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Washington name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Washington name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Jamaica; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Washington family history
The complete Washington pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Washington name FAQ
What does the Washington name mean?
From Washington ("settlement of Wassa's people"). Common variants include Wessington, Wassington.
Where does the Washington surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Jamaica.
Is there a Washington coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Washington crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Washington coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.