Wolsey Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Wolsey last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Wolsey last name
Meaning of the Wolsey last name: wolf victory. Wolsey is an English surname from the Old English personal name Wulfsige, "wolf victory". Thomas Wolsey, cardinal and chancellor to Henry VIII, was born in Ipswich, and the last name is found mainly in East Anglia. Woolsey is a common variant. The surname is uncommon today.
Arms associated with the Wolsey name
Heraldry associated with the Wolsey surname uses a few strong colours, and each coat of arms has its own blazon.
Get your full Wolsey family history
This is only a glimpse of the Wolsey story. The full Wolsey history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Wolsey coat of arms. Get the full Wolsey report.
Wolsey name FAQ
What does the Wolsey name mean?
Wolf victory. Common variants include Woolsey, Wolsley.
Where does the Wolsey surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Wolsey coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Wolsey coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).