Map of England showing where the Woolley arms are recorded
The Woolley arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 Woolley 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 England.
Origin & History of the Woolley Family in England
The surname Woolley is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people based on the place where they lived. It is derived from Old English words that describe a clearing in a forest or a meadow used for grazing sheep. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 show members of the Woolley family living and working within this urban center during a time of significant social and economic change in Northern England. As the name became more common, it spread across the region, often associated with families who worked in the wool trade or lived near lands designated for sheep farming. This connection to the landscape and local industry helped the name persist through generations as families moved from rural settlements into the growing city of York.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wulf-leah
Old English for wolf and woodland clearing or meadow.
This name
WoolleyRefers to a person who lived near a clearing frequented by wolves.
also spelled
Woulley
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
