Surname Wollaston - Meaning and Origin
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Wollaston: What does the surname Wollaston mean?
Wollaston is an English topographic surname, derived from the name of a place. It is believed to have descriptive noes, with the first element 'wolla' coming from the Old English term 'wala' meaning spring or stream. The second element 'stone' refers to the physical feature of a stone on the land. The place name was most likely used to describe a stone by the side of a spring.
The name is most commonly associated with the village of Wollaston in Northamptonshire, England, believed to be the original home of the family, as well as with other villages throughout England. It has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly the United States, as part of the waves of immigration during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Wollaston family members have been prominent in many areas of life, particularly within the Church of England. An example is Edward Wollaston, an 18th century team rector of Wollaston and a chaplain to King George III. W. E. Wollaston, who served as a member of the Church of England for 43 years, and was the Vicar of Aberford, was also noteworthy.
The Wollaston surname has become a popular one, with many people taking it on and bringing a number of variations to the spelling of the name in recent years. This includes Wollston, Woolsten, Woolston, Wolloven, Woolaven and Woolven.
Order DNA origin analysisWollaston: Where does the name Wollaston come from?
Today, the surname Wollaston is primarily found in the United Kingdom. Most notably, it is found in the counties of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, and Staffordshire. This distribution is likely due to the fact that the surname originated in the region of Warwickshire.
The history of the surname Wollaston starts in the 11th century where it is first found in the area of Warwickshire belonging to the Wollaston family. By the mid 12th century, the surname had spread to surrounding counties and remains concentrated in this region today.
Closer to present day, the surname is often found originating from the village of Wollaston in Northamptonshire. The hamlet originally connected to a Norman Baron of the name Wollaston, Roger de Wallestans and henceforth adopted as a surname by some of the local population.
Due to emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, the surname can be found scattered all over the world, with ranks high in Australia, the United States of America, Canada and South Africa. As of the 2011 United Kingdom census, the surname Wollaston is located in ranks of 5,320th in terms of The UK's most common surnames.
Variations of the surname Wollaston
The surname Wollaston has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Wollaston, Wallaston, Walerton, Wallerton, Woolaston, Woolerton, Woolsten, Woolstone, Woolstons, Wollarson, Wollerson, Wollortson, Wolardson, Walarson, Walersom, Wallersom, Wallerson, Wallersone, Walison, Wallson, and Wolston. The surname has its origin in Saxon England, and is derived from a place name, likely a village or parish where an ancestor had dwelled.
The name originates from a combination of two words — “well” and “stun,” which mean “the spring where the post is placed.” It is likely that the first records of the surname date back to the 11th century, and one of the earliest references is of one Rainald de Wollaston from 1208.
The name has since spread throughout the world and can be found in Brazil, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, and Scotland, among other countries. A notable bearer of the name is the English chemist, physicist, geologist and biologist William Hyde Wollaston, who is known for his discoveries of palladium and rhodium.
Variations of the name are also found in many languages, such as Dutch, where it is spelled Woullaston, and French, where it is Wollastone or Wollastz..
In conclusion, the surname Wollaston has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, from regions across the world. The name originates from Saxon England and refers to a spring where a post stood. It is likely that the first bearers of the name date back to the 11th century. Notable bearers of the name include William Hyde Wollaston, the English chemist, physicist, geologist and biologist, and it is also found in other languages, such as Dutch and French.
Famous people with the name Wollaston
- William Hyde Wollaston (1766–1828), English chemist and physicist
- Francis Wollaston (1781–1853), English chemist and physicist
- Walter Shirlaw Wollaston (1772–1850), British geologist
- Arthur George Wollaston (born 1826), British naval officer and navigator
- Mark Wollaston (1789–1854), English botanist
- Edward Pyke Wollaston (1797–1867), English entomologist
- Philip Wollaston (1786–1833), British painter
- Roger Wollaston (1714–1772), British clergyman
- William Elford Wollaston (1777–1854), British sporting shooter
- Esmond Wollaston (1920–1997), British zoologist and artist