Show ContentsWoolidge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Woolidge was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Woolidge family lived in Kent, at Woolwich.

Early Origins of the Woolidge family

The surname Woolidge was first found in Kent where they held a family seat. The name is derived from the borough of London, which, originally the Saxon name Hulviz, at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086 by Duke William of Normandy, was held by Hamo the Sheriff, sometimes known as Hamo the Senechal (historian). It was customary amongst the Norman Barons to assign the name of the locality as a surname to a son so as to distinguish son from father. Hamo's, second son, Hamon, is most likely to be the under-tenant holding Woolwich, from his father, and conjecturally, the family are descended thusly. Wollage Green was also held, as was Woolwich Wood.

Early History of the Woolidge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woolidge research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1313, 1524, 1598, 1621, 1625, 1640, 1668, 1700 and 1827 are included under the topic Early Woolidge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woolidge Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Woolwich, Woolidge, Woolich, Woolidge, Woolage, Wooledge, Woledge, Woolage, Wolage, Wolledge, Worledge, Worlidge, Worllege, Worlledge, Worlage, Wolladge, Woolidge, Wollage, Wooladge, Worlych, Woolych, Woolydge, Wollydge, Warledge, Wullich, Wullidge, Wulladge, Wullage, Wooleich and many more.

Early Notables of the Woolidge family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woolidge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Woolidge family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Woolidge or a variant listed above: John, Henry, William and Mary Wooleich whom settled in Virgina in 1650; John Woliche, his wife, two sons and three daughters settled in New England in 1709 from London England..



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