Wolfendon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Wolfendon was first found in Lancashire at Wolfenden, a district, once a hamlet, in Rossendale. Few early records of the name exist. The Wills of Chester list George Hey, of Wolfenden, forest of Rossendale in 1620 and James Wolfenden, of Rochdale in 1614. 1 "The Wolfendens or Woolfendens, who are more numerous in the West Riding [of Yorkshire], derive their name from a Lancashire township. The Wolfendens were established in Rochdale in the 16th century." 2

Much further to the south in Cornwall, we found this interesting entry which may lead to their earliest origins in England: " 'Then' says Mr. Whitaker, 'an English family I apprehend settled upon the lands, and held them from the crown of England. This, or the successors of this, at the Conquest, I take to be the family which is called the Wolvedons before, and apparently bears an English appellation. They settled for some time I apprehend in the bottom, and fiear the church; even long enough for the present hill of Golden to take from their tongues the English denomination of Wolvedon, or Wolfhill, being covered with a wood, and haunted by Wolves. On this very hill they afterwards erected their house, and in process of time derived their denomination from it.' This ancient family of Wolvedon, or Wulvedon. of Wulvedon alias Golden, continued to retain it in their possession, from this early period mentioned above until the year 1512; at which time the last male heir died, as appears by his epitaph now in Probus church. When this event took place, the heiress of this family carried their large and ancient possessions to the Tregians of Tregyans in St. Ewe; who on this marriage removed to Golden, and made it their family seat." 3