Map of England showing where the Woolston arms are recorded
The Woolston arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of 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 Woolston 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Woolston Family in England
The surname Woolston is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people by the specific place where they lived. It is derived from Old English roots that translate to Wulf’s farm or settlement, suggesting that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or landowners who established a homestead in a location known by that name. By the early 17th century, the family had firmly established roots in the county of Devon, England. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, where they were integrated into the local agricultural and social life of the rural landscape. Over time, as families moved away from their original settlements, they carried the name with them, turning a simple description of a place into a lasting family identity that persisted through generations of life in the English countryside.
Woolston Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Wulfstan
Derived from the Old English elements wulf meaning wolf and stan meaning stone.
This name
WoolstonA locational surname referring to a settlement or farmstead belonging to a person named Wulfstan.
also spelled
Woulston
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Devon Quarter Sessions Records, QS 1/1
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
handFaith, sincerity and justice
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
handFaith, sincerity and justice
