Woosley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Woosley family

The surname Woosley was first found in Staffordshire at Wolseley, a hamlet in the hundred of Pirehill which dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Ulselei. 1

It was land held by the Bishop of Chester and was quite small having 4 villans, 2 borders with 1 plough and 3 acres of meadows. Over the centuries the hamlet has remained quite small. A census taken in the 1800s lists only 133 inhabitants.

The hamlet includes the small village of Wolseley-Bridge, and about half a mile west of the bridge stands Wolseley Hall, the family manor with a stately facade crowned with an embattled parapet. The interior is embellished with beautifully-carved oak panels that date back to the time of Charles II. The family was "the most ancient among all the very ancient families in this county" and are "said to have been resident at Wolseley even before the Norman Conquest, and it has ever since remained their seat and residence." 2

One of the earliest records of the family was Robert de Wolsley, vicar of Addingham in Craven, 1353. 3

Early History of the Woosley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woosley research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1473, 1514, 1529, 1530, 1587, 1628, 1630, 1646, 1660, 1697, 1714, 1728, 1730 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Woosley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woosley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wolseley, Wolsley, Woolsley, Wolsey, Woolsey and many more.

Early Notables of the Woosley family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (c. 1473-1530), English prelate, Archbishop of York, Primate of England (1514-1529), Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII; Sir Robert Wolseley, (c. 1587-1646), created a Baronet by Charles I in 1628; and his son, Sir Charles Wolseley, 2nd Baronet (ca.1630-1714)...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woosley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woosley Ranking

In the United States, the name Woosley is the 7,501^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Woosley family to Ireland

Some of the Woosley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woosley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Woosley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Brodie Harry Woosley, aged 33, who settled in America, in 1904
Harry Woosley, aged 43, who immigrated to the United States, in 1913
Walter D. Woosley, aged 35, who settled in America, in 1918
Walter E. Woosley, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States, in 1918
Charles Kerswell Woosley, aged 17, who landed in America, in 1919

Contemporary Notables of the name Woosley (post 1700) +

Angela Woosley, American bronze medalist in Judo at the 2011 Pan American Games-Women's 48 kg
Tiffany Woosley (b. 1973), American former professional basketball player for the Houston Comets (1997-1998), two-times WNBA Champion
Stanford Earl Woosley (b. 1944), American physicist, and Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, recipient of the Bruno Rossi Prize (2005) and the Hans Bethe Prize (2005)
Raymond L. Woosley M.D. Ph.D., American founder and President Emeritus of Critical Path Institute (C-Path)
Louisa Mariah Layman Woosley (1862-1952), American minister, first woman to be ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian denomination

The Woosley 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: Homo homini lupus
Motto Translation: Man a wolf to man.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/