Show ContentsWoollaston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins and Etymology of Woollaston

The surname Woollaston was first found in Staffordshire, where "the family were lords in early times, and which they sold to the Aston family temp. Richard I. Wollaston is in the parish of Old Swinford. Some of the Wollastons may derive their name from other places so called in cos. Gloucester and Shropshire. " 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Ivo de Wolastone, Staffordshire; William de Wolastone, Salop (Shropshire); and Saer de Wolaveston, Northamptonshire. 2

The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III list John de Wolaston, Bedfordshire and William de Wolaston, Northamptonshire.

Wollaston is a chapelry, in the parish of Alberbury, union of Atcham, hundred of Ford in Shropshire. The chapelry dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Willavestune and literally meant "farmstead or village of a man called Wiglaf," from the Old English personal name + "tun." 3

Wollaston in Northamptonshire also dates back to the Domesday Book, but had a different spelling, Wilavestone, but had a similar meaning. 4

There is also a township of Wollaston in the parish of Old Swinford, union of Stourbridge, Lower division of the hundred of Halfshire, Worcestershire. 5

Early History of the Woollaston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woollaston research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1616, 1638, 1639, 1643, 1649, 1658, 1659, 1660, 1666, 1674 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Woollaston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woollaston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wollaston, Woolaston, Wolleston, Woollaston, Woolleston, Woolliston and many more.

Early Notables of the Woollaston family

Sir John Wollaston (died 1658), an English merchant, Lord Mayor of London in 1643, Sheriff of London (1638-39), Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths Company (1639-40), president of Christ's Hospital (1649.) William Wollaston (1660-1724), was an English moral philosopher, born on 26 March 1659-16660 at Coton-Clanford, Staffordshire, the son of William Wollaston. "The Wollastons were an old Staffordshire family. One, Henry Wollaston (d. 1616), went to London and returned with a fortune made in trade. A dispute between his sons as to the succession was finally compromised. The eldest, William, got...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woollaston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Woollaston migration to the United States +



Woollaston Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Woollaston, who settled in Virginia in 1650

Contemporary Notables of the name Woollaston (post 1700) +

  • Ben Woollaston (b. 1987), is an English professional snooker player from Leicester, ranked number 47 as of November 2024
  • Gerald Woollaston (b. 1936), Jamaican cricketer who played in two first-class matches for the Jamaican cricket team in 1959/60 and 1967/68
  • Philip Tosswill Edmond Woollaston (b. 1944), former New Zealand Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Nelson from 1981 to 1990 and Mayor of Nelson from 1992 to 1998
  • Tatiana Woollaston (b. 1986), born Tatiana Torchilo, Soviet-born, professional snooker referee, an official referee of the WPBSA, EASB, EBSA and BSF, wife of Ben Woollaston
  • Sir. Mountford Tosswill "Toss" Woollaston (1910-1998), New Zealand painter


The Woollaston 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: Ne quid falsi
Motto Translation: Nothing false.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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