Woodstake History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Woodstake name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Woodstock, a town in the north-west part of Oxfordshire.

Early Origins of the Woodstake family

The surname Woodstake was first found in Oxfordshire at Woodstock. "This town is of Saxon origin, and was called by that people Vudestoc, signifying a woody place. It appears to have been chosen at an early period as an abode of royalty, and the manor-house, as it was called, is supposed to have been built upon the site of a Roman villa. Edmund of Woodstock, the second son of Edward I., was born here; as were also Edward the Black Prince, and Thomas of Woodstock, sons of Edward III. Henry VII. added considerably to the buildings of the palace, erecting the front and the principal gate-house." 1

"Edmund of Woodstock, Earl of Kent (1301-1330), youngest son of Edward I, by his second wife, Margaret of France, was born at Woodstock on 5 Aug. 1301. On 31 Aug. 1306 he received from his father a revenue of seven thousand marks a year. It was commonly believed that the old king proposed to confer the rich earldom of Cornwall either on Edmund or on his elder brother Thomas of Brotherton; but the accession of Edward II secured that prize for the favourite, Gaveston. Edward II, however, placed Edward Baliol in the custody of his half-brother. In 1319 he made Edmund lord of the castle and honour of Knaresborough." 2

The Feet of Fines for Oxfordshire included Alisius de Wodestoke in 1235. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Hudde de Wodestok, Oxfordshire; and John de Wodestok, Oxfordshire. 4

Robert Wodestoke was found in the Assize Rolls for Devon in 1359 3 and another source notes: "Lifton, which adjoins Marystow, one of the frontier parishes of Devon next Cornwall, passed from the Crown, by the grant of King John in 1199, to Agatha, who had been nurse to Eleanor his mother. By Edward I. the manor, hundred, and advowson were given to Thomas of Woodstock, and descended thence through the Hollands to the Nevilles." 5

Early History of the Woodstake family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woodstake research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1326, 1330, 1331 and 1385 are included under the topic Early Woodstake History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woodstake Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Woodstake were recorded, including Woodstock, Woodstocke and others.

Early Notables of the Woodstake family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Edmund of Woodstock, 2nd Earl of Kent (c. 1326-1331), who inherited the Earldom of Kent in 1331, a year after his father, Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent, was attainted. In 1330 he was, on the petition of his mother and the reversal of his father's condemnation, recognized as Earl of Kent. He died very...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woodstake Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Woodstake family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Woodstake family emigrate to North America: Robert Woodstock arrived in St. Christopher in 1635; John Woodstock arrived in Maryland in 1775.

Citations +

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
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital