Show ContentsWoodmansey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Woodmansey family

The surname Woodmansey was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Woodmansey. Later another branch of the family was found at Fenrother in Northumberland. "This place was at an early period held under the barons of Bothal, by the family of Fenrother. In the reign of Henry III., and subsequently, the Herons had possessions here; and among other owners have been the priors of Tynemouth, and the family of Woodman: it is now the property of Mr. Woodman, and the Duke of Portland." [1]

An interesting entry was found: "In a proclamation by Edith of Wessex, Queen of Edward the Confessor, judgment is asked for on a certain undesirable tenant named Wudemann, to whom the queen had lent a horse and who had not paid any rent for two years." [2]

Further to the north in Scotland, it was "an old surname in the parish of Strichen. William Wode was juror on an inquest made in St. Katherine's Chapel, Bave-ley, in 1280. Nicholas Wodman became burgess of Aberdeen in 1400, Thomas Wodeman attained the same distinction in 1486, and is mentioned again in 1493. Andrew Wodman was a forestaller in Aberdeen in 1402. The surname is also common in Northumberland." [3]

There are two distinct possible origins for this name. The first, having derived from the Old English personal name Wudernann (in 1070 Wudeman) and secondly, for the occupation a woodcutter. [2]

"A Wodeman occurs in Domesday, and at an earlier period individuals so designated gave names to Woodmancote, co. Sussex; Woodmanstone, co. Surrey; Woodmansey, co. York." [4]

Early History of the Woodmansey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woodmansey research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1477, 1486, 1493, 1524, 1557, 1633 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Woodmansey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woodmansey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Woodman, Wudman, Wouldman, Wodeman, Woodmann, Woodeman, Woodmansey and many more.

Early Notables of the Woodmansey family

Distinguished members of the family include Richard Woodman (1524?-1557) English Protestant martyr, born in Buxted and lived in nearby Warbleton in East Sussex. He was burnt during the Marian Persecutions in 1557 in Lewes."Traditions of Woodman linger in Sussex. The site of his house is still pointed out. He is said to have been confined in the second story of the...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woodmansey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Woodmansey family to Ireland

Some of the Woodmansey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Woodmansey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Woodmansey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robert Woodmansey, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1644 [5]
  • John Woodmansey, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1673 [5]
  • James Woodmansey, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1694 [5]
Woodmansey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Woodmansey, who settled in Maryland in 1774

Canada Woodmansey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Woodmansey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Woodmansey, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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