Woolwich History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Woolwich family name to the British Isles. They lived in Kent, at Woolwich.

Early Origins of the Woolwich family

The surname Woolwich 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 Woolwich family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woolwich 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 Woolwich History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woolwich Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include 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 Woolwich family

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

Migration of the Woolwich family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Woolwich 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..

Contemporary Notables of the name Woolwich (post 1700) +

Madlyn-Ann Crawford Woolwich (b. 1937), American pastel and oil painter who uses an impressionist style to her landscapes and floral gardens