Woolton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The history of the Woolton family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in one of a variety of similarly-named places. Settlements named Woolstone are in Buckinghamshire and Devon. Wolstan is a parish in Warwickshire and Woolston is a hamlet in Somerset. The surname Woolton belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Woolton family

The surname Woolton was first found in Lancashire at Woolstone, a township, in the parish and union of Warrington, hundred of West Derby. Saint Walstan (or Walston) (died 1016) dedicated his life to farming and the care of farm animals and is accordingly the patron saint of farms, farmers, farmhands, ranchers and husbandrymen.

"[Bawburgh, or Babur in Norfolk] is distinguished as the birthplace of St. Walstan; he lived at Taverham, where he died in 1016, and his remains were removed hither, and enshrined in a chapel in the parish church. The resort of pilgrims to visit his shrine greatly enriched the vicar and officiating priests, who, in 1309, rebuilt the church; but the chapel in which the remains of the saint were deposited was demolished in the reign of Henry VIII." 1

Early History of the Woolton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woolton research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1465, 1535, 1553, 1561, 1570, 1573, 1579, 1594, 1670, 1705 and 1733 are included under the topic Early Woolton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woolton Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Woolton include Woolston, Woolton, Wolston and others.

Early Notables of the Woolton family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

John Woolton (or Wolton) (1535?-1594), English Bishop of Exeter. He was born at Whalley in Lancashire about 1535 (according to Godwin he was born at Wigan), was the son of John Woolton of Wigan, by hi...

Woolton migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Woolton or a variant listed above:

Woolton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Woolton, who settled in Virginia in 1639

Woolton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Woolton, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1869 2
John Woolton, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from England, in 1893
Thomas T. Woolton, aged 32, who landed in America, in 1893
Thomas Woolton, aged 37, who settled in America, in 1895

Woolton Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Joseph Woolton, aged 27, who landed in America from Hurst, in 1901
Frances Charles Thomas Woolton, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Oldbury, in 1905
Eveline Woolton, aged 15, who settled in America from Middlesboro, England, in 1913
Elizabeth Woolton, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Helchin, England, in 1915
James Woolton, aged 46, who landed in America, in 1921
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Woolton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Woolton Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Albert Maurice Woolton, aged 34, who immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1912

Woolton 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:

Woolton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Caroline Woolton, British settler travelling from London with 2 children aboard the ship "Hamilla Mitchell" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 30th November 1853 3
Rebecca Woolton, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inflexible" in 1870

Contemporary Notables of the name Woolton (post 1700) +

Frederick James Marquis Woolton (1883-1964), English politician and businessman