Show ContentsWollburdon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Wollburdon family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Cheshire, at the village and parish of Warburton, which was acquired by the Duttons as early as temp. Henry II, but it was not until the reign of Edward I., or II., that this territorial name was assumed by Sir Peter de Dutton. [1]

Early Origins of the Wollburdon family

The surname Wollburdon was first found in Cheshire at Warburton, now part of Greater Manchester, "where they were descended from Sir Peter de Dutton, a Crusade knight, who in turn was descended from Rollo, the first invader and Duke of Normandy in 890. His Family Crest "a Saracen's head is still borne by the Warburtons referring to the Holy Land, and probably gained by some heroic exploit in the expedition. " [1] The source continues by referring to an earlier source: "This Galfrid lived in 1244. He was servynge his prynce, and vanquyshed a Sarrazin in combate - then begynnynge to seale with a Sarrasins's head" [1]

Reader's Note: a seal(e) was typically an early form of a crest. Yet another source claims the family is descended from William of Eu, through Odard, nephew of Lupus, great Earl of Chester, who was a nephew of William the Conqueror. They were granted the barony of Dutton at the Conquest in 1066. [2]

The Domesday Book also lists the spelling of the place name as Wareburgetune. Literally, the place name means "farmstead or village of a woman called Waerburh," having derived from the Old English personal name + tun. [3] Warburton was the home of "monastery of Praæmonstratensian canons, dedicated to St. Werburgh." [4]

Warburton dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Wareburgetune [2] and literally meant "farmstead or village of a woman called Warburh," from the Old English personal name + "tun." [3]

"The Warburtons derived their name from the Cheshire parish. Warburton is one of the most frequent of characteristic Cheshire names. One of the families carries its pedigree back to the times of Edward VI. (O.). In the list of Cheshire contributors to the Spanish Armada Fund in 1588 we find the name of Peter Warburton for £21, and that of the Ladie Warburton for £25 (Sp.). Probably the Lancashire Warburtons hailed originally from Cheshire. John Warburton, the antiquary and Somerset Herald, who died in 1759, was bom at Bury in Lancashire." [5]

Early rolls show Mabilia de Warberton in the Pipe Rolls for Essex and Hertfordshire in 1212. William de Warbilton was found in the Hundredorum Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1278 and Geoffrey de Werberton was listed in Cambridgeshire in 1325. John Warberton or Warbulton was listed in the Feet of Fines for Surrey in 1413-1414. [6]

Early History of the Wollburdon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wollburdon research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1290, 1550, 1572, 1588, 1622, 1666, 1675, 1676, 1698, 1743 and 1779 are included under the topic Early Wollburdon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wollburdon Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Wollburdon family name include Warburton, Warbleton, Wareburton and others.

Early Notables of the Wollburdon family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Peter Warburton (d. 1550) of Arley, Cheshire; and his grandson, Peter Warburton (1588-1666), an English barrister and judge; Sir George Warburton, 1st Baronet (1622-1676), first of the Warburton Baronetcy, of Arley in the County of Chester; Sir Peter Warburton, 2nd Baronet (died 1698)...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wollburdon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Wollburdon family to Ireland

Some of the Wollburdon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wollburdon family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Wollburdon family to immigrate North America: Ann Warburton and her husband who settled in Virginia in 1656; Thomas Warbleton settled in Virginia in 1653(probably the husband of Ann); Edie Warburton settled in Maryland in 1718.



The Wollburdon 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: Je voil droyt avoyre
Motto Translation: I will have justice.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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