Woolworth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The ancestors of the Woolworth family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Surrey, at Walworth, a hamlet, in the parish and union of St. Mary, Newington, two miles from London. 1 Now part of Greater London, Walworth dates back to Saxon times, where in 1001 it was listed as Wealawryth. By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, it was known as Waleorde. 2 The place name literally means "enclosure of the Britons." 3 But another source claims the name meant "Welshman's farm." 4

Walworth, a township, in the parish of Heighington, union of Darlington in Durham 1 is another possible origin of the family. 5

Early Origins of the Woolworth family

The surname Woolworth was first found in Surrey where they were Lords of the manor of Walworth from early times. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book survey in 1086, Walworth was held by Baynard from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and conjecturally the Walworths are descended from this Baynard a Norman noble. 2

One of the first entries of the family in public rolls was John de Walworth who was listed in London in 1340. Later in Yorkshire, John de Walleworth was found in the Feet of Fines for 1375. Back in London, we found Richard Walleworth in the Assize Rolls of 1400. 5

Sir William Walworth (d. 1385) was Lord May of London and "was descended of good family. A William de Walworth, who may have been his father, was the grantee of land in Darlington in 1314. Sir William himself succeeded a member of the ancient family of Bart, Bard, or Baard, in the tenure of a manor which included the parish of Middleton St. George, near Darlington in Durham." 6

Early History of the Woolworth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woolworth research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1373, 1374, 1375, 1380, 1381, 1385, 1592 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Woolworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woolworth Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Wallworth, Wallworthe, Walworth, Walworthe, Woolworth, Woolworthe, Wolworth, Wolworthe, Walwork, Walworke, Wallwork and many more.

Early Notables of the Woolworth family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Walworth (died 1385), the English nobleman and politician who was twice Lord Mayor of London (1374-1375 and 1380-1381). He is best known for killing Wat Tyler during the Peasants' Revolt in 1381. His family came from Durham. He worked for a time in the Customs House under Geoffrey Chaucer. In his second term of office as Lord Mayor...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woolworth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woolworth migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Woolworth or a variant listed above:

Woolworth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Woolworth, aged 35, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Rotterdam" in 1890 7
Carrie Woolworth, aged 53, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Etruria" in 1890 7
Wm Woolworth, aged 65, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Etruria" in 1890 7
M. Woolworth, aged 24, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "City of Paris" in 1892 7
C. Woolworth, aged 21, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "New York" in 1893 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Woolworth Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

W. H. Woolworth, aged 70, Jamaican settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Altai" in 1903 7
Mrs. W. H. Woolworth, aged 65, Jamaican settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Altai" in 1903 7
James Woolworth, aged 65, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Finland" in 1903 7
Jas. M. Woolworth, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Kroonland" in 1904 7
Edna Woolworth, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Oceanic" in 1905 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Woolworth (post 1700) +

Frank Winfield Woolworth (1852-1919), American entrepreneur, the founder of F. W. Woolworth Company, and the operator of variety stores known as "Five-and-Dimes"
Michael Woolworth (b. 1960), American master printer, living and working in Paris
Charles Sumner Woolworth (1856-1947), American entrepreneur who went by the nickname of "Sum", opened and managed the world's first five-and-dime store in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was founder of the "C. S. Woolworth & Co" chain of 5¢ & 10¢ stores, brother to Frank Winfield Woolworth
Sabin Woolworth Colton (1847-1925), the only private individual to ever own a chair on both the Philadelphia and New York Stock Exchanges

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result