I can make nothing out of this surname, and leave it to the consideration of more enlightened students. I can furnish them with materials, but that is all. My Yorkshire references clearly represent some of its ancestors.

Adam Wytherpyn, Norfolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Adam Wyerpin, Norfolk, ibid.

Johannes Withspone, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Willelmus Wythspone, 1379: ibid.

John Wetherpyn, vicar of Thrickby, Norfolk, 1419: History of Norfolk.

The meaning of this name is uncertain. 'Sheep pasture' has been reasonably suggested from Old English and ME. weðer, 'sheep, lamb, and spong, obsolete English for a tongue-shaped piece of land enclosed by or lying next to higher ground. Late in the thirteenth century Roger Wythirspon, clerk, attested a grant by James the High Steward of lands in Renfrew (OPS., I, p. 77). "Widderspune the foulare that tald talis and brocht foulis to the king" received a payment in 1496 (ALHT., I, p. 307; Trials, I, p. 116). John Wyddirspwn was tenant of Dalbeth in 1518 (Rental), and a tenant of Cupar-Angus Abbey, c. 1500, was named Wychthirspone. Maister Nichol Vithirspouyne who witnessed letters of reversion, 1519 (Pollok, I, p. 241) may be Nicholas Wethirspwne, witness in Glasgow, 1548 (Protocols, I). Sir Thomas Vaddirspoun, a cleric, was witness at Falkland, 1548 (Gaw, 8). Thomas Witherspuyn witnessed a tack by the abbot of Cupar, 1521 (SCM. V, p. 294), and Archibald Wetherspune held the vicarage of Karridden, 1546 (LSC., p. 261). Robert Wyddirspune was witness in West Lothian, 1547 (Binns, 40). The Rev. John Witherspoon (1722-1794), born in Yester, became president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1768, and took an active part in the American Revolution on the side of the colonists. General William Wallace Wotherspoon (1850-1921), head of the state canal system of New York, was of Scottish descent. Uedtherspon 1560, Uthirspwne 1552, Vatherspoone 1637, Wedderspoone 1620, Wetherspone 1614, Wetherspwne 1549, Wethirspone 1590, Wethirspune 1569, Weyhthirspon 1546, Widerspune 1483, Witherspone 1583, Witherspune 1588, Withirspovune c. 1530, Withirspwne 1575, Wodderspoon 1761, Wotherspone 1601, Wyddirspwnn 1485, Wyderspone 1477.

(Anglo-Scot.) Dweller at the Wether’s Pound [the genit. of Old English weð(e)r + pund (Northern English and scot. pun'), pound, enclosure]

(Scottish, English) Dweller at, or near, the wether or sheep enclosure.

Local. A grazing—place in the spur of a mountain or hill; Weider, Dutch or Saxon, and span, to unite, bend, extend.