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![Show Contents]() Wolsincham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names. Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Wolsincham family, who 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 Wolsincham familyThe surname Wolsincham 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 Wolsincham familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wolsincham 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 Wolsincham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wolsincham Spelling VariationsBefore the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Wolsincham were recorded, including Walthingham, Walthinghame, Walsingham, Walsinghame, Walsinham, Walsincham and many more. Early Notables of the Wolsincham familyOutstanding 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 Wolsincham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Wolsincham familyThe unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Wolsincham arrived in North America very early: Thomas Walsingham who settled in Virginia in 1610; ten years before the "Mayflower"; Mr. Walsingham arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1850.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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