Woodhall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Woodhall family

The surname Woodhall was first found in North Yorkshire at Woodale, a hamlet in Coverdale in the Yorkshire Dales. The place name dates back to 1223 where it was listed as Wulvedale and literally meant "valley frequented by wolves." 1 Early Yorkshire records show Jordan de la Wodehalle recorded there c. 1265. In nearby Cumberland, John del Wodhall was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. 2

Alternatively, the family could have originated in Woodhall, a parish, in the union of Horncastle, S. division of the wapentake of Gartree, parts of Lindsey in Lincolnshire. Woodhall is also a hamlet in the parish of Harthill, union of Worksop, S. division of the wapentake of Strafforth and Tickhill in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 3

Of this branch, Peter de Wudehale was the first recorded. He was listed in the Lincolnshire Pipe Rolls for 1193. 2

Another source underlines this latter entry noting the name denotes "one who came from Woodale (wolves's valley), in Yorkshire; dweller at the hall by the wood. " 4

As far as other early entries in various rolls is concerned, The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Adam de Wodhall and the Howdenshire (now in the East Riding of Yorkshire) Poll Tax Rolls listed Matilda atte Wodhall there in 1379. 5

Another early record of the family was found in Surrey where Alice atte Wodehalle was recorded in 1332. 2

Early History of the Woodhall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woodhall research. Another 44 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1556, 1591, 1599, 1627, 1628, 1633, 1641 and 1643 are included under the topic Early Woodhall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woodhall Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Woodall, Woodhall, Woodhull and others.

Early Notables of the Woodhall family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Woodall (1556?-1643), English surgeon, born about 1556, the son of Richard Woodall of Warwick and his wife Mary. "He began life as a military surgeon in Lord Willoughby's regiment in 1591, and afterwards lived abroad at Stoad in Germany, and, knowing German well, acted as interpreter to an embassy sent thither by Queen Elizabeth. He remained eight years in Germany, travelling also in France and in Poland, where he practised the cure of the plague. In 1599 he was admitted to...
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woodhall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woodhall migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Woodhall Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Daniel Woodhall who was convicted in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dick" on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. John Woodhall, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. Thomas Woodhall, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Woodhall (post 1700) +

Norrie Woodhall (b. 1905), English stage actress
George Woodhall (1863-1924), English footballer
Richie Woodhall (b. 1968), former English World Champion super-middleweight boxer

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey