Wudbridge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Wudbridge family

The surname Wudbridge was first found in Suffolk at Woodbridge, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of Loes. "This town is of considerable antiquity, for, in the time of Edward the Confessor, the prior and convent of Ely had possession here, and their successors still hold the manor of Kingston: the name is thought to be a corruption of Wodenbryge, from the Saxon god Woden. Towards the termination of the 12th century, a priory of Augustine canons was founded here by Ernaldus Rufus and others, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. " 1

In Saxon times, the parish was known as Oddebruge c. 1050 but by the Domesday Book of 1086, it was known as Wudebrige. 2 As one would expect, literally the place name means "wooden bridge" or "bridge by the wood." 3 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed John de Wudebrege, Cambridgeshire; and Thomas de Wudebrige, Wiltshire. 5

Despite the importance of Suffolk, the first listing of the family was in Somerset where Alan de Wodebrig held lands in 1243. 6

Early History of the Wudbridge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wudbridge research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1455, 1487, 1564, 1582, 1593, 1595, 1613, 1614, 1622, 1634, 1637, 1638, 1639, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1645, 1663, 1677, 1684 and 1696 are included under the topic Early Wudbridge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wudbridge Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Woodbridge, Woobrige, Woodbrigg, Wudbridge and others.

Early Notables of the Wudbridge family

Distinguished members of the family include John Woodbridge (1582-1637), Rector of Stanton Fitzwarren, Wiltshire; and his son, Benjamin Woodbridge (1622-1684), an English clergyman and controversialist who emigrated to America in 1639 to become the first graduate of Harvard College in 1642. He was the son of John Woodbridge, and his wife Sarah (1593-1663), daughter of Robert Parker (1564?-1614.) He matriculated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford, on 9 Nov. 1638, but went in 1639 to New England, whither his elder brother, John (noticed below)...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wudbridge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wudbridge family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: settlers who were recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)