Show ContentsWollhope History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wollhope family

The surname Wollhope was first found in Hampshire where "the true and original name of this family is Barton - Peter Barton, lord of West Barton, having married Alice, only daughter and heiress of Sir Robert de Wallop, who died in the eleventh year of Edward I." 1

There can be no doubt as to the authenticity of this quote, but one must question Sir Robert de Wallop's heritage, not Peter Barton. For this, we must look back further where the name "Matthew de Wallop, which was the title of one of it's early members, favours the opinion, that the Wallops were settled at Wallop as Saxon manorial lords anterior to the Conquest of England, and that the family name is derived from that places." In fact, "four brothers are mentioned in [the] Domesday [Book] as possessing Wallop, in Hampshire." 2

Early History of the Wollhope family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wollhope research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1228, 1502, 1540, 1551, 1566, 1568, 1581, 1599, 1601, 1616, 1621, 1642, 1660, 1667, 1690, 1697 and 1762 are included under the topic Early Wollhope History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wollhope Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Wollhope are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Wollhope include Wallhope, Wallop, Walopp, Walop, Wallopp, Wallope, Wellhope, Welhopp and many more.

Early Notables of the Wollhope family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Wallop (d. 1551), English soldier and diplomatist, the son of Stephen Wallop. "The family of Wallop had, according to a pedigree drawn up by Augustine Vincent, been very long settled in Hampshire. They held various manors there, but John Wallop, who lived in the time of Henry VI and Edward IV, having inherited Farleigh, or, as it was afterwards called, Farleigh-Wallop, from his mother, made that the chief residence of his family. A son of this John Wallop, Richard Wallop, was sheriff of Hampshire in 1502, and seems to have died...
Another 132 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wollhope Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Wollhope family to Ireland

Some of the Wollhope 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.

Migration of the Wollhope family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Wollhope, or a variant listed above: James Wallop who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1749.



The Wollhope Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: En suivant la verite
Motto Translation: By following the truth.


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Stevens, Joseph, A Parochial History of St. Mary Bourne: With an Account of the Manor of Hurstbourne Priors, Hants. London: Whiting & Company, 1888. Print.


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