Surname Wolleston - Meaning and Origin
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Wolleston: What does the surname Wolleston mean?
The surname Wolleston is believed to have originated in England during medieval times, and it is derived from the Old English words "wala" meaning a wall and "tun" meaning a town or settlement. It is thought that the surname was originally given to someone who lived near or actually on a wall or fence, either as an owner or tenant.
The name is likely associated with the phrase "beyond the wall" as there was much territoriality between lands in the middle ages and boundary markers were often built to declare who owned or controlled what. In fact, the surname Wolleston appears as Wallesdone in the Agincourt Rolls from 1415.
The name Wolleston is now quite common in many parts of England, including Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Hereford, Wiltshire, and Dorset, as well as in other countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States.
In modern times, the surname Wolleston may still have a touch of its original meaning, of being connected to a wall or boundary. But more often than not it is simply a family name passed down from generation to generation, connecting us to our ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisWolleston: Where does the name Wolleston come from?
The last name Wolleston is most common today in the United States. According to the 2020 US Census data, the last name is most prevalent in Massachusetts, where over 300 people identified as having the last name. Following Massachusetts, New York and California are the two most common states for the surname, with over 200 occurrences in each.
Outside of the United States, the name Wolleston is also common in the United Kingdom, particularly within North Yorkshire, Greater London and West Yorkshire counties. Additionally, the last name Wolleston is common in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and The Netherlands.
Variant spellings of the last name, such as ‘Wolliston’ and ‘Wolstin’, are also relatively common in their respective countries. The name is derived from an English surname, which has English, Irish, and Scottish roots.
Although the last name has been present around the world for centuries, the majority of occurrences remain in the United States and United Kingdom. With over 1,200 occurrences across various countries, the last name Wolleston is relatively popular today.
Variations of the surname Wolleston
The surname Wolleston is believed to have various variants, spellings, and surnames that are believed to share the same origin. They include Wollaston, Woolaston, Woolsten, Wollson, Wallsten, Wallston, Woolson, Wahlsten, Wollcon, Wulsten and, Wollman.
Wolleston is a habitational name from various places bearing the name such as Wollaston in Shropshire and Norfolk, Wollington in Northamptonshire or Wollasten in Essex and Nottinghamshire. These surnames are derived from the Old English words waella, meaning spring or source, and stan, meaning stone.
The spelling variations of Wolleston are generally attributed to the name as it was increasingly Anglicised by successive generations of English people throughout history, particularly during the Middle Ages. The difference in spelling is mainly due to the varying degrees of literacy within the population at the time and also due to the influence of different regional accents on the pronunciation of the name.
Other spellings of Wolleston, such as Woolson and Wulsten, are thought to have originated from the Celtic word 'wealh' or the old Germanic word 'wall', both roughly translating to 'foreigner' or 'stranger'. Wollcon may have been an abbreviation of these terms. Certain variations of Wolleston have also been used as given names, such as Wollman, which has been found to be existing in documents as far back as the 13th century in some parts of England.
Famous people with the name Wolleston
- Emily Wollaston: British presenter, botanist, and writer for The Guardian.
- Brendan Wollaston: British actor, best known for his roles in the soap opera EastEnders and Hit and Misses.
- Lydia Wolleston: British actress, best known for her roles in the TV series Midsomer Murders and Downton Abbey.
- Amanda Wolleston: British sculptor, best known for her works in bronze and stone.
- David Wolleston: British-born actor, best known for his role in the 1970s sitcom The Good Life.
- Mark Wolleston: British photographer and former model, best known for his work in fashion and advertising campaigns.
- Carla Wolleston: British-born painter and illustrator, best known for her works in the comic book industry.
- Stephen Wolleston: English composer, best known for his composition work in musical theatre.
- Patricia Wolleston: British film producer, best known for her work on the films The Mission and The English Patient.
- Richard Wolleston: British computer scientist, best known for his work in artificial intelligence.