| ![Show Contents]() Woolson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland The story of the Woolson family stretches back through time to the Viking settlers who populated the rugged shores of Scotland in the Medieval era. The name Woolson was derived from the personal name William. The name literally was derived from the patronymic expression son of William or son of Wil. 1 "The family are said to be descended from a Prince of Denmark, and were established at a very remote period in the Orkney islands, intermarrying with the clans of Monro, and others. After a long continuance in the north, alliances taking place with some of the principal Lowland families, the Wilsons moved southward. " 2 Early Origins of the Woolson familyThe surname Woolson was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland, where John Wulson was a merchant in the service of Sir John of Montgomery in 1405. Michael Wilsoun was Burgess of Irvine in 1418, and John Wilson was Burgess of Berwick in 1467. 1 Early History of the Woolson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woolson research. Another 237 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1567, 1603, 1662, 1667, 1680, 1685, 1704, 1750 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Woolson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Woolson Spelling VariationsStandards used to judge the accuracy of spellings and translations did not yet exist in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations in names dating from that era, are thus, an extremely common occurrence. Woolson has been recorded as Wilson, Willson, Wilsone, Wulson, Wilsoun and others. Early Notables of the Woolson familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was Margaret Wilson (died 1685), one of the Wigton martyrs, a young Scottish Covenanter from Wigtownshire executed by drowning for refusing to swear an oath declaring James VII; and John Willison (1680-1750), an evangelical minister of the Church of Scotland and a writer of Christian literature.Margaret Wilson (1667-1685), the 'martyr of the Solway,' and the eldest daughter of Gilbert Wilson (d. 1704), a yeoman of Penninghame, Wigtownshire, was born at Glenvernock in that parish in 1667. " Though her parents conformed to episcopacy, Margaret and her younger sister Agnes refused to do so. On...
Another 124 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woolson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Woolson family to Ireland
Some of the Woolson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Woolson migration to the United States | + |
The New World was far from the oppressive regime of the old country. It was a place where there was more land than people and political and religious freedom were far easier to come by. Many Scots even got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. In recent years, interest in this heritage has been generated by Clan societies and regular highland games in North America. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Woolson name:
Woolson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Sorry Woolson, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 3
Woolson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Mrs. A. G. Woolson, aged 54, who landed in America from London, in 1892
Woolson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- A.M. Woolson, aged 64, who settled in America, in 1906
- William D. Woolson, aged 40, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
- Ruth Woolson, aged 18, who settled in America, in 1909
- W. D. Woolson, aged 40, who landed in America, in 1909
- Mrs. John Woolson, who immigrated to the United States, in 1910
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Woolson (post 1700) | + |
- Constance Fenimore Woolson (1840-1894), American novelist and short story writer, grandniece of James Fenimore Cooper
- Albert Woolson (1850-1956), American soldier, the last surviving member of the Union Army who fought in the American Civil War
- John Simson Woolson (1840-1899), United States federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
- Julia Woolson Gentleman (1931-2023), née Brooks, an American politician in the state of Iowa who served in the Iowa House of Representatives for the 65th district between 1975 and 1979
- Henry Woolson Morse (1858-1897), American composer of musical theatre
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: Vincit qui se vincit
Motto Translation: He conquers, who conquers himself.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Woolson migration to the United States 
