Wodehouse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Wodehouse family
The surname Wodehouse was first found in Leicestershire at Woodhouse a civil parish and a chapelry, in the parish and union of Barrow-upon-Soar, hundred of West Goscote.
However there are over other places named Woodhouse in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, West Yorkshire and in Leeds. These later places are smaller than the Leicestershire parish.
One of the reasons for the many listings is the origin of the place name: from the Old English words wudu + hus, which literally means "house(s) in or near a wood." 1
"This family is very ancient, for they were gentlemen of good ranke in the time of King John, as it appeareth by many antient grants and evidences of theirs which I have seen," wrote Peacham in his "Compleate Gentleman," in 1614.
Robert de Wodehouse or Woodhouse (d. 1345?), was Treasurer of the Exchequer, son of Bertram de Wodehouse, a Norfolk knight who fought with distinction against the Scots under Edward I. 2
Early History of the Wodehouse family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wodehouse research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1193, 1573, 1585, 1605, 1608, 1623, 1624, 1640, 1653, 1654, 1658, 1660, 1681, 1833, 1877 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wodehouse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Wodehouse Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Woodhouse, Wodehouse, Wouldhouse and others.
Early Notables of the Wodehouse family
Distinguished members of the family include
- Sir Philip Wodehouse, 1st Baronet (died 1623), was an English Baronet, soldier and Member of Parliament; Sir Thomas Wodehouse, 2nd Baronet (c.1585-1658), an English Baronet and Member of Parliament fo...
Migration of the Wodehouse family to Ireland
Some of the Wodehouse family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Wodehouse migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Wodehouse Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- P. Wodehouse, who settled in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 1825
Wodehouse migration to New Zealand +
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:
Wodehouse Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Ann Wodehouse, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Stately" in 1851
Contemporary Notables of the name Wodehouse (post 1700) +
- Norman Wodehouse (1887-1941), Royal Navy Vice-Admiral
- Richard Wodehouse (1892-1940), English cricketer
- Sir Pelham Grenville "PG" Wodehouse (1881-1975), English comic novelist
- Sir Edwin Frederick Wodehouse (1850-1934), senior British police officer
- Edmond Robert Wodehouse (1835-1914), British Unionist politician
- Sir Philip Edmond Wodehouse (1811-1887), British colonial administrator
- Sir John Wodehouse (1669-1754), 4th Baronet a British Member of Parliament
The Wodehouse Motto +
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: In hoc signo
Motto Translation: In this token.
Citations +
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print