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Worral History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Worral History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Worral belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in Worral, a place in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1 2 The place-name Worral is composed of the Old English elements wir, which means "myrtle" and halh, which means "nook or corner of land." The place-name translates as "nook of land where bog-myrtle grows." 3

Alternatively the name could have originated at Wirral, in Cheshire. 4

Early Origins of the Worral family

The surname Worral was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire, at Worrall, a small rural village and parish which dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Wihale, part of the lands held by Roger de Busli. By 1218, some records show the village's name as Wirhal. 3 Today it is within the boundaries of the City of Sheffield and has a population of about 1,306 as of 2006. At one time, Knotty-Ash House in Lancashire was the property of the Worrall family. 5

One of the first records of the family was Roger de Wyrhal, who was listed in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219. Records in Sheffield, South Yorkshire list Richard de Wyrall in 1351 and William Worrall in 1517. 6

Early History of the Worral family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Worral research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1388, 1586, 1590, 1614, 1630, 1664, 1705 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Worral History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worral Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Worral include Worrall, Worral, Worrell, Worrel, Worrill, Worril and others.

Early Notables of the Worral family

Distinguished members of the family include

James Worrall...

Migration of the Worral family to Ireland

Some of the Worral family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worral migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Worral were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Worral Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Martha Worral, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 7
Peter Worral, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1687 7
Peter and Mary Worral, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1687

Worral Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Worral, who arrived in America in 1765 7

Worral migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Worral Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Samuel Worral, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Calphurnia" in 1849 8
Thomas Worral, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Calphurnia" in 1849 8

Worral migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Worral Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Alfred Worral, aged 18, a pearl worker, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1873
William Worral, aged 61, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
Mary A. Worral, aged 60, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
Jesse Worral, aged 21, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
Selina Worral, aged 19, a housemaid, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Worral (post 1700) +

Dr. Stephen Graham Worral B.E.M., British recipient of the British Empire Medal on 8th June 2018, for charitable service in Eastern Europe

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CALPHURNIA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Calpurnia.htm