Show ContentsWollsincham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Wollsincham is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Wollsincham family lived in Norfolk, at Little Walsingham or Great Walsingham. "This place, which is also called Old Walsingham, was formerly of considerable importance. " 1 Regarding Little Walsingham, "this place, sometimes denominated New Walsingham, was of great celebrity, for many centuries, as possessing a shrine of the Virgin, or Our Lady of Walsingham, founded in 1061 by the widow of Ricoldie Faverches, whose son, Sir Galfridus, confirmed her endowment, and established a monastery for Augustine canons." 1

Early Origins of the Wollsincham family

The surname Wollsincham was first found in Norfolk at Walsingham where the first of this name was a chronicler of Normandy and of Norman nobility, William of Walthingham, who appears in connection with the church of Pictariville in Normandy about the year 990. Another family seat was found at Barnes in Surrey. "Elizabeth granted the manorhouse to Sir Francis Walsingham, who, in 1589, entertained that sovereign and her court here." 1

One of the first records of the family was John Walsingham or Walsingam (d. 1340?), the English theologian, said to have been educated at the house of the Carmelites or White Friars at Burnham, Norfolk. Later, Thomas Walsingham (d. 1422) was a monk and historian, believed to have been a native of Norfolk. 2

Early History of the Wollsincham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wollsincham research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1462, 1490, 1532, 1540, 1550, 1561, 1573, 1590, 1614, 1621, 1630, 1640, 1668 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Wollsincham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wollsincham Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Wollsincham family name include Walthingham, Walthinghame, Walsingham, Walsinghame, Walsinham, Walsincham and many more.

Early Notables of the Wollsincham family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Edmund Walsingham (1490?-1550), lieutenant of the Tower of London, was elder son of James Walsingham (1462-1540); Sir Francis Walsingham (c. 1532-1590), principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I of England from 1573 until his death, popularly remembered as her "spymaster"; Sir Thomas Walsingham (c. 1561-1630), courtier to Queen Elizabeth I and literary patron to Thomas Watson, Thomas Nashe, George Chapman and Christopher Marlowe; Sir Thomas Walsingham (died 1669), an...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wollsincham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wollsincham family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Wollsincham family to immigrate North America: Thomas Walsingham who settled in Virginia in 1610; ten years before the "Mayflower"; Mr. Walsingham arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1850.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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