Show ContentsWolfey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wolfey family

The surname Wolfey was first found in Warwickshire at Wolvey, a parish, in the Kirby division of the hundred of Knightlow. The village dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Ulveia. 1 Literally, the place name probably meant "enclosures protected against wolves," from the Old English words "wulf" + "hege." 2 The family name was first referenced in the year 1200 when Roger Wolvey held lands in this area. "The church is an ancient structure, with windows in the early English style; the south entrance is a mixture of the pointed arch and the circular arch of the Norman style. In the interior are two tombs, each having recumbent figures, one the tomb of Sir Thomas de Wolvey (a Knight Templar) and his lady, dated 1330." 3

Early History of the Wolfey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wolfey research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Wolfey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wolfey Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Wolfey include Wolvey, Wolfey, Woolvey, Woolfey and others.

Early Notables of the Wolfey family

More information is included under the topic Early Wolfey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wolfey family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Wolfey or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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