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| Origins Available: |
| | England |
The surname Wenlock was first found in Shropshire at either Little Wenlock or Much Wenlock, villages and towns that date back to Saxon times when they were first listed collectively as Wynloca c. 1000. Almost one hundred years later, in the Domesday Book of 1086, the villages were listed as Wenlock and possibly meant "white monastery." 1
Another reference predates the aforementioned. The source claims that claims the place name was originally Winnica, or "the windy place." And it was here that a convent was established about 680, by Milburga, daughter of King Merwald, and niece of Wulfhere, King of Mercia. At her death, she was interred here. The convent was destroyed by the Danes but was restored by Leofric, Earl of Mercia, in the time of Edward the Confessor, after which it fell into decay. Soon after the Conquest, Robert de Montgomery rebuilt and restored it into a priory for Cluniac monks, and dedicated it to St. Milburga.
Extensive ruins can still be seen today on the south side of the town. One of the first records of the family name was seen in the year 1203 when William de Wenlac held estates there. 2
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wenlock research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1323, 1404, 1421, 1422, 1433, 1436, 1447, 1449, 1455, 1461, 1471 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Wenlock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations of this family name include: Wenlock, Wenlake, Wenlac, Wenlocke, Whenlocke, Wenloc, Whenlock, Whenlake, Winlock, Winlake, Wanlock and many more.
Distinguished members of the family include