Ancestral Witchcraft: Witch Bloodline Names from England, Ireland, & U.S.
If you haven’t seen the first post in the Ancestral Witchcraft series, click here. The first post includes witch bloodline names from Scotland, Salem MA, Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia, and Italy. In this post, we continue the database of names with accused witches in other regions of the United States, England, and Ireland. If you didn’t find your familial names in the last database (Salem, Scotland, Scandinavia, Italy, etc), check over these names thoroughly! All names were pulled from public records of Witch Trials, as well as old folklore books.
Before We Start: Please READ!
Before diving into your family’s history and comparing to the witch bloodline names below, you have to discern whether your ancestors were witches or not. Many of the accused “witches” plead guilty to lessen their sentence, be freed, or they were tortured into “confessing”. Some may have had psychiatric problems misconstrued by superstition back in the day. It is possible some were witches at the most basic level as some were considered wise men or women who used herbs to heal, perform divination, etc. Do your research on witch bloodline names that match your own and determine from there whether or not you descend from a “witch”. I also recommend asking your witch ancestor to confirm or deny via signs in a dream, meditation, etc.
American Witch Bloodline Names (Other than Salem)
In the last article Ancestral Witchcraft article, we listed off the names of the Salem witches. All who were accused and found guilty, those who were executed and those who escaped or died in prison. In this database, we’ll scratch the surface of other American witch surnames from elsewhere in the United States. So if your ancestors didn’t live in Salem, but live somewhere else in the U.S., you might find it here! The names below are taken from Connecticut, Maryland, and New York witch trial documentation. Also from Appalachian and Ozark folklore books. If you have ancestors from New England, Maryland, Louisiana, the Carolinas, the Appalachians or Ozarks with any of these last names – look at your family tree to determine if your ancestor might have been a witch!
English Witch Bloodlines
I’ll reiterate, the names here are a mixture of Witch Trial documentation from England as well as what we know of English cunning men and women. I’ve also included last names of well-known twentieth century English witches. It is up to you to determine if your ancestor was a “witch” or not. Our definition of a witch today doesn’t always match what the definition of a witch was back then. Someone who uses herbs to heal, pendulums to divine messages, and practices folk magic might have been a healer, pellar, conjurer, or cunningfolk back then, but today we might label them as a “witch”.
Irish Witch Bloodline Names
The Witch Trials in Ireland were fewer than those elsewhere in Europe, but they still happened. There were also healers, herbalists, and wise men and women who were labeled as witches in the name of superstition. Some survived the accusations, while others avoided them entirely. It is up to you to decide if your ancestors were witches by your definition or not. Names were gathered from public documentation of Witch Trials and folklore books.
Ancestral Witchcraft: Facing the Facts
As exciting as it can be to find a witch ancestor in one’s family tree, it can also be a little disturbing. It might bring up some strong emotions. Questions about why your ancestor was perhaps wrong accused or falsely imprisoned or executed. Sometimes the same men and women who helped their villages and neighbors with herbal cures were then accused of witchcraft. The same people they helped turned their backs on them and threw them to the wolves, so to speak. Superstition and fear ran rampant in Medieval Times through the Early Modern Period, and people of many walks of life were accused of witchcraft.
Most of these people probably didn’t do magic at all. The poor, rich, old, young, ugly, beautiful, female or male, were all accused of maleficia (malevolent witchcraft). There are various theories as to why the Witch Trials in Europe and the U.S. took place, including everything from ergot-poisoning to doctors trying to flush out midwives and everything in between. The truth is there were plenty of reasons why each tragedy occurred, but the main reasons were fear and control.
Ancestral Witchcraft: Honoring Ancestors Year-Round
Samhain season rolls around and everyone is talking about ancestors and the thinning of the veil. But it shouldn’t just be on Samhain that we honor those who came before us. Particularly the women and men who paved the way for us to have religious freedom. Some of our own ancestors died tragically because of superstition and greed. Let’s honor them year-round by lighting a candle and saying a simple prayer of gratitude. Keep a small space on your altar for your ancestors (especially any accused witches). Or create a page for him/her in your grimoire or scrap album. When you need extra courage in the face of adversity and persecution for your beliefs, pray to your ancestors for protection and strength. They won’t let you down. And remember – they can’t burn us all.
Want to take an online class on the basics of witchcraft? We offer the Witchling Study Grove here!
42 Comments
Ash "Dyer" A
October 27, 2021 at 3:04 pmMy maiden last name is Dyer and my family is from Connecticut. It’s wild I’ve always had interest in Witch lore and the trials to now knowing probably why!
Meagan
October 5, 2021 at 11:06 pmLooking for French names. Specifically Bergeron & Blanchet.
Savannah
June 1, 2021 at 4:41 pmMy mothers maiden name is Hewitt I’m very happy with this I have always felt an connection with witchcraft and magical things
Shawnee
August 15, 2021 at 9:49 pmMy paternal fathers name is Hewitt, I’m from Florida, my family from near lake okeechobee.
Shawnee
August 15, 2021 at 9:49 pmMy fathers name is Hewitt, I’m from Florida near lake Okeechobee.
Storm
April 18, 2021 at 9:21 amHi! My dads said of the family is said to be Druids but i can’t find there last name anywhere on this lists. Does this mean they weren’t witches and were purely Druids? Thank you so much this blog is great 🙂
grace
September 30, 2021 at 2:55 amnot at all! it just means they may have not been as known.
Ami
March 6, 2021 at 10:18 amMy mother’s grandmother was Edith grey
And my dads grandfather (grandmothers second husband) was gray. How would I go about searching this information please?
Anonymous
October 5, 2021 at 2:49 amDruids was simply a “clan/tribe” in a specific area, that isn’t a Surname
Hailie Watach
December 14, 2020 at 6:16 amHi My name is Hailie, Im Only 16. I have a very strong connection with magical thing and lifestyle. I have also come to Learn that i have a somewhat Strong seance of Intuition. The only person i know that has that type of Psychic gift is my grandma whom i live with. i wish i could find more of my family that are like her and I. so if you know anyone with the last name Watach, just reply to this comment. thanks for reading this and possibly helping me find more people whom have a bloodline of witches or psychics which will help me learn more about myself and my family past.
Alexander Reid
January 12, 2021 at 7:19 pmEven if she doesn’t find that name for all you know your grandmother and by extension you are the start of a new bloodline.
Timothy strickler
March 18, 2021 at 9:16 pmHow do you find out stuff like this stuff cause I’m trying to find out stuff about my family . my last name is supposed to be luck.
Kevin Stephenson
October 8, 2020 at 5:34 amMy mother’s side is Palmer and decent of Walter Palmer the Puritan. Was there a connection there?
renae hubbard
September 6, 2020 at 4:10 ami have found martin and scott in my ancestry.com but only gotten to the late1800s so far but both there names are listed in salem witch trials. allways told my grandmother bently{i cant find that name anywhere hardly] was witch,she had voodoo dolls, but never knew her . how do i get more information ..pulled toward the introvert and alot of the major empath feelings..how do i figure this out..i feel a connection of something..the chackrras are always popping up in my life but havent actually done it yet especially third eye but is weighing heavily.please help cant let this go it wont let me. it wont let me forget it just keeps poppping up in weird places to let me know its there and i feel the need to seek more..im 43 yrs old ..why so late in my life does this seem to have significance and should my children know NOW..need advice please
Heather Byrd
August 21, 2020 at 1:14 amWhere did the surname Dye come from on the American Witches list? I have tried to research this and I come up with Dyer but not Dye. I am interested since my mother’s surname is Dye.
alturl.com
April 23, 2020 at 7:51 amI really like it when individuals come together and
share ideas. Great blog, keep it up!
Debra
March 26, 2020 at 11:15 pmMy last name is Leacy but the spelling has been changed throughout many times Lacey Leesey and here were more
Hilary Benoit
March 26, 2020 at 10:51 pmI have a Campbell, a Bruce, and a Mitchell in my family tree..
Leslie Moon
November 8, 2021 at 5:50 pmHi! Bruce/Hall are my family bloodline. King Robert the Bruce is my 21st GG. I live in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The Bruce’s moved here from Scotland. All of the family names that you have above are connected. I have been researching these names for 4 years now. If you would like to connect, my email is leslie.moon@yahoo.com
Joan
March 10, 2020 at 7:52 pmMy last name is dye but I am married now my name in shook now
Raven Skye Cavaliere
January 23, 2020 at 3:26 amDoes anyone have any information about Kifer or Conger witches? My great great grandmother Sephronia Conger was a hedge witch. I would love to learn more.
Marcy greene
February 11, 2020 at 3:43 amDo u know any witches with surname mooney, that’s my maiden name
Leslie Moon
November 8, 2021 at 5:53 pmMy maiden is Moon….which is another version of yours. It changed a couple of times.
Tara
December 16, 2019 at 6:36 pmWhat do you know of witches in Scotland, Ireland and England who were nobility? I have Janet Douglas, David Ramsey, Kenneth Mackenzie and the last name mcgee in my tree. Most of my ancestors were nobility so i feel like that makes it harder to research my witch lineage. My mother is psychic and so am I so I’m researching to see what else I can find. It seems like most of these people weren’t actual witches. I’m not sure if Janet Douglas was or not. She was accused of killing her first husband before the witchcraft accusation so that made me wonder if she actually was a witch. If you have any advice or know of witchcraft among the nobles please reply, thank you.
Barbara
December 25, 2019 at 9:23 pmThis is a link to an interactive map identifying people accused and tried in Scotland.
Jamie Lee Harrison
October 14, 2019 at 1:19 amI’m a Harrison, my grandma a McGee, I have Cabot in my family and a few others. Lol. Pretty interesting
Kimberly M Chaney
September 10, 2019 at 12:53 amAny family from the shea family
Tanya Thomas
February 25, 2020 at 4:58 amI have Dyer, Harrison Edwards, any info would be greatly appreciated!
Hanaa ennis
March 4, 2020 at 10:56 amHi kimberly my greatnan x2 was a chaney lol
Rhonda Allen
August 15, 2019 at 5:38 amDo you have any information about Slavic witch craft? Or serbian witches? There are stories in our family
Felicia Doty
June 25, 2019 at 4:21 pmI have the last name ‘Doty’ which is basically Doughty. I have ancestors with that last name. Is it possible I could be?
admin
June 26, 2019 at 12:15 pmhave you looked up variations of the name doughty?
Ms. Doty
November 20, 2019 at 1:59 amI have the same last name so information would be appreciated if you come across anything! Thanks!
Amanda
February 20, 2019 at 7:00 pmI am hoping to find more information on Isabella Rigby. My family tree goes back to the Rigby family in Lancashire but I can not find much more on Isabella other than her hanging death in 1666. Any suggestions on where to look?
admin
February 21, 2019 at 5:23 pmIt’s difficult to find info. online in regards to accused witches sometimes. Maybe try looking up Lancashire folklore or archived records from their online libraries. If you live in that area, you could go to the local libraries and look more up, no doubt. BUT if you don’t live in that area, try looking for books on Lancashire history
Barbara
December 25, 2019 at 9:21 pmThis is a link to a map showing the names and trial/sentence information on those accused in Scotland. Hard to follow on a phone – laptop/desktop works better. https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/about/news/interactive-witchcraft-map
Lisa Rigby
May 2, 2019 at 9:55 pmI came across your comment googling Isabella Rigby who was my 10th great-grandmother. We are cousins! I still share her last name and live in the US. I found some info that she was accused by neighbors. I do know that she was very old when it happened, and I found a petition that she filed some decades before for the care of a child.
Alivia
October 28, 2020 at 1:12 amApparently we are related too! So I’m on AncestryDNA I don’t have Isabella but I have three male Rigbys. I’m going to guess they are related to her because they lived in lancashire.
Thomas Jackson
December 2, 2020 at 2:01 pmHi Alivia, I have Isabella Rigby in my family tree. I have seen records of male Rigbys being accused as witches and sent to trial. Thomas.
Deborah
January 3, 2019 at 5:03 amThis is really nice ,and I also connected five Names of my ancestors with the names of the witches . If this is true , i found These to be my ancestors .Harrison , Black , Green , Lindsay ,And I’m still going to do a lot more research. The fifth one I’m not too sure about . Forbee , i found in my ancestery furby
admin
January 4, 2019 at 2:05 pmWow Deborah! You sure have magic in your blood!
pam Baxter
October 8, 2018 at 1:18 amThis was cool to read. My maiden name is Barnes, my paternal grandfather ( Barnes) is from North Carolina. I would love to research this more.