The ancestors of the name Woolstenhulme date back to the days of the
Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence at
Woolstencroft in the county of
Cheshire. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English
personal name Wulfstan and the Old English word
croft, meaning
paddock, farm or enclosure, or
holm, meaning
area of dry land. The name thus translates as
the dweller at Wulfstan's farm.
Early Origins of the Woolstenhulme family
The surname Woolstenhulme was first found in
Lancashire where they held a
family seat from very ancient times, before and after the
Norman Conquest in 1066, in Wolstenholme, near Warrington, in that shire. Conjecturally they were descended from Woolston in
Warwickshire, a pre-Norman Saxon settlement.
Early History of the Woolstenhulme family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woolstenhulme research.
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1574, 1700, 1562, 1639, 1610, 1600, 1609, 1611, 1670, 1640, 1622, 1691, 1649, 1709, 1676, 1717, 1689, 1724, 1660, 1738 and 1762 are included under the topic Early Woolstenhulme History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Woolstenhulme Spelling Variations
Woolstenhulme has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few
hundred years,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Woolstenhulme have been found, including Woolstenholme, Wolstonholme, Wolstenholme and many more.
Early Notables of the Woolstenhulme family (pre 1700)
Notables of the family at this time include Sir John Wolstenholme (1562-1639), an English merchant who sponsored the Henry Hudson's last mission in 1610 to find the Northwest Passage, eponym of Cape Wolstenholme, Quebec, Canada. He hailed from "an old
Derbyshire family, was the second son of John Wolstenholme, who came to London in the reign of Edward VI and obtained a post in the customs. The son at an early age became one of the richest merchants in London, and during the last half of his life took a prominent part in the extension of English commerce, in colonisation, and...
Another 132 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woolstenhulme Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Woolstenhulme family to the New World and Oceana
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in
England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Woolstenhulmes to arrive on North American shores: John Wolstenholme arrived in Pennsylvania in 1865.
Contemporary Notables of the name Woolstenhulme (post 1700)
- Richard Robert "Ricky" Woolstenhulme Jr. (b. 1979), American drummer for the alternative rock band Lifehouse
- William Woolstenhulme, English co-founder of Woolstenhulmes & Rye, a company that manufactured stationary steam engines in 1821
The Woolstenhulme 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: In ardua virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue against difficulties.
Woolstenhulme Family Crest Products
Related Stories