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![Show Contents]() Woodly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Woodly was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Woodly family lived in Devon, at Woodleigh, a village, parish and former manor located in the South Hams region. The name is derived from "wood" and the Old English "leah" meaning a "clearing in a forest", collectively a "clearing in the wood." 1 The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Odelie. 2 Early Origins of the Woodly familyThe surname Woodly was first found in Devon, where the family held a seat at Woodleigh, after the Norman Conquest of 1066. 3 4 They were conjecturally descended from Robet de Aumaly, who held the fishery of Woodleigh which included 15 cattle and 100 sheep. 2 It is situated above Kingsbridge estuary. Robert was descended from the Counts of Aumaly, one of the largest land holding barons in Normandy. 5 Early History of the Woodly familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woodly research. Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woodly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Woodly Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Woodly have been found, including Woodley, Woodleigh, Woodlief and others. Early Notables of the Woodly familyMore information is included under the topic Early Woodly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Woodly family to Ireland
Some of the Woodly family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Woodly migration to the United States | + |
For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Woodly were among those contributors:
Woodly Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- William Woodly, who arrived in Virginia in 1662
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
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Woodly migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
