| ![Show Contents]() Woolfe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of WoolfeWhat does the name Woolfe mean? The ancient name Woolfe is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name is thought to have evolved from a nickname for a person who bore some resemblance to a wolf, either in appearance or behavior 1 2 "often Latinized as Lupus and found in the French forms Lou and Love." 3 Early Origins of the Woolfe familyThe surname Woolfe was first found in The Pipe Rolls, or Sheriff's Annual Accounts of the Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Durham during the reigns of Henry II, Richard I and John where the forename Ulf de Appelbi was recorded in 1163. The same rolls listed Ulf Stodhyrda in 1196. 4 In Lincolnshire, the Pipe Rolls of 1166 included an entry for Robert Wulf as holding lands there at that time. 3 Later the Cartularium Abbatiale de Whiteby, Ordinis S. Benedicti had two records, this time as a surname: Roger Ulfe; and William filius Ulfe in 1350. 4 Early History of the Woolfe familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woolfe research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1550, 1560, 1578, 1739, 1755, 1760, 1791, 1803 and 1823 are included under the topic Early Woolfe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Woolfe Spelling VariationsBefore the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Woolfe family name include Wolfe, Wolf, Woolf, Woolfe, Wolff, de Wolfe and many more. Early Notables of the Woolfe familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Arthur Wolfe, 1st Viscount Kilwarden (1739-1803), Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, the son of John Wolfe of Forenaughts, co. Kildare, and of Mary, only daughter of William Philpot. He entered at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1755, and, having obtained a scholarship, graduated B.A. in 1760.Charles Wolfe (1791-1823), the Irish poet, was born at Blackhall, co. Kildare, on 14 Dec. 1791. He was one of a family of...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woolfe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Woolfe family to IrelandSome of the Woolfe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Woolfe migration to the United States | + |
To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Woolfe family to immigrate North America:
Woolfe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- William Woolfe, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 5
- Michaell Woolfe, who arrived in Virginia in 1645 5
- Thomas Woolfe, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 5
Woolfe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Elizth Woolfe, aged 8, who landed in New York in 1711 5
- Jacob Woolfe, aged 20, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 5
- Johannes Woolfe, aged 23, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1740 5
- Peter Woolfe, aged 25, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1740 5
- Nickolas Woolfe, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1747 5
Woolfe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Wilhelmus Woolfe, aged 48, who landed in New York in 1802 5
- P Woolfe, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1855 5
| Woolfe migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Woolfe Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. George Woolfe U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 20 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 6
| Woolfe migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Woolfe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Margaret Woolfe, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 7
| Contemporary Notables of the name Woolfe (post 1700) | + |
- Nathan Brett Woolfe (b. 1988), English footballer
- Harry Bruce Woolfe (1880-1965), English film producer and director who founded British Instructional Films
- Mr. James Woolfe, British sheriff, held the joint position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1600 to 1601
- Eric Woolfe, Canadian actor, playwright, puppeteer and magician
- John Woolfe (1932-1969), British racing driver who raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1968 and 1969)
- Sue Woolfe (b. 1950), Australian author, teacher, scriptwriter and editor
- Steven Marcus Woolfe (b. 1967), British barrister and politician, Member of the European Parliament for North West England (2014-)
- Richard Woolfe, British broadcast figure, former channel controller of Sky1 and Channel 5
- Kevin Woolfe (1930-2002), Australian rugby league player, a triple premiership winner with South Sydney Rabbitohs
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: Fides in adversis
Motto Translation: faith in adversity
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- 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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The TRAFALGAR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Trafalgar.htm
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