Woolley Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Woolley Name Meaning: Thought to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon given name 'wulf', meaning wolf and the Anglo-Saxon word 'leah' meaning clearing or wood.

A surname which was probably given to someone from a place of the same name which would have been named after the area having being built in a clearing or in a wood. The Middle English word 'woll' or similar also refers to a spring which is also what some settlements were named after.

Discover how your Woolley ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Woolley Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Woolley family

Profession Census Frequency
Agricultural Labourer 126
Female Servant 98
Independent 64
Male Servant 52
Farmer 49
Labourer 37
Frame Work Knitter 31
Cotton Weaver 20
Cotton Spinner 19
Dress Maker 17
Brick Layer 16
Shoe Maker 15
Carpenter 13
Grocer 13
Tailor 13
Ag Labourer 10
Ag Lab 10
Blacksmith 9
Gardener 9
Clerk 9
Collier 9
Apprentice 8
Joiner 8
Servant 8
Shop Keeper 8

Woolley Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Woolley 100% 44,497
2 Willey 71% 21,119
3 Wooley 86% 13,380
4 Walley 71% 12,408
5 Wolley 86% 3,359
6 Willy 57% 3,278
7 Woolly 86% 908
8 Wally 57% 729
9 Welley 71% 664
10 Welly 57% 312
11 Wooly 71% 252
12 Wallay 57% 218
13 Woley 71% 111

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The surname Woolley is the most popular version of all its varients

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