Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Whence

Whence , adverb

[Old English whennes, whens (with adverbial s, properly a genitive ending; -- see -wards), also whenne, whanene, Anglo-Saxon hwanan, hwanon, hwonan, hwanone; akin to Dutch when. See When, and compare Hence, Thence.]

1.
From what place; hence, from what or which source, origin, antecedent, premise, or the like; how; -- used interrogatively.
Whence hath this man this wisdom? — Matt. xiii. 54
Whence and what art thou? — Milton
2.
From what or which place, source, material, cause, etc.; the place, source, etc., from which; -- used relatively.
Grateful to acknowledge whence his good Descends. — Milton
O, how unlike the place from whence they fell? — Milton
From whence come wars and fightings among you? — James iv. 1