Map of England showing where the Woollard arms are recorded
The Woollard arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Woollard arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sussex.
Origin & History of the Woollard Family in England
The surname Woollard is rooted in the Old English language, likely evolving from the personal name Wulfweard, which translates to guardian of the wolf. By the early 17th century, families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Sussex, England. During this period, the region was characterized by a mix of agricultural communities and growing trade hubs, where families often lived in small parishes for generations. The name appears in local records from 1620, suggesting that the Woollards were part of the stable, land-working population that helped define the social fabric of rural Sussex. As the name transitioned from a personal identifier to a hereditary surname, it became a permanent mark of the family’s presence in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wulfheard
Derived from Old English elements meaning wolf and brave or hardy.
This name
WoollardAn occupational or locational surname likely denoting a guardian of wolves or a brave protector.
also spelled
Wyllard
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
West Sussex Record Office, Parish registers of Sussex, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ermineDignity and rank
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ermineDignity and rank
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
