WOOLDRIDGE
Wooldridge is a surname of English origin, found throughout the British Isles. It is a locational name, literally meaning a ridge associated with wolves, and can be traced back to the Old English words wulf—“wolf” and hrycg—“ridge”. The name signifies either a geographic association with a wolf‑inhabited ridge, or a descriptive attribution to someone possessing wolf‑like qualities.
The earliest forms of the surname appear in the early twelfth and thirteenth centuries, indicating that the name survived the Norman period and the widespread loss of Anglo‑Saxon names. Recorded instances include Ralph Wolfrich of Surrey in 1250, Robert Wolurich of Oxfordshire in 1279 and Ralph Wolverych of Berkshire in 1318. The very first documented spelling is that of William Wulfric, dated 1212 in the Curia Regis Rolls of Berkshire during the reign of King John (1199‑1216).
Variations of the surname are numerous, reflecting changes in spelling over time and across regions. Common forms include Wooldridge, Woolveridge, Wollrich, Woolrych, Woolridge, Wolrich, Wolrige, Woolwright, Ullrich and Ulrik. Such diversity is typical of Anglo‑Saxon and Norse baptismal names, many of which were compounds combining elements associated with the Gods of Fire, Water and War or other distinctive motifs.
The surname was held by several notable individuals in church registers. For example, the marriage of James Wooldridge and Mary Rawlins on 26th December 1661 was recorded at St. James’ Clerkenwell, and Elizabeth Wollveridge was christened at St. Matthew’s Church, Bethnall Green, London on 24th September 1775.
Heraldic tradition associates a coat of arms with the name: a silver field bearing a black cross quartered and pierced by four red crescents. This blazon reflects the family’s historical identity and social standing within the English gentry.
Typical given names associated with the Wooldridge surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
Female
- Ann
- Carol
- Christine
- Claire
- Emma
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Wooldridge in...
Braille
⠺⠕⠕⠇⠙⠗⠊⠙⠛⠑
Morse
.--------.-..-...-...-..--..
Semaphore
There are approximately 4,081 people named Wooldridge in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,280th most common surname in Britain. Around 63 in a million people in Britain are named Wooldridge.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Wooldridge
- Susan Wooldridge - Actress
- John Wooldridge - Composer (1919 to 1958)
- Michael Wooldridge - Computer scientist
- Lovell Wooldridge - Cricketer (1901 to 1983)
- Keith Wooldridge - Tennis player
- Sidney William Wooldridge - Geographer (1900 to 1963)
- Steve Wooldridge - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.