Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
WOOLEY
As described in historical dictionaries
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
WOOLLEY. WOOLEY. Anciently written Wolflege and Wolveley, i. e., AngloSaxonice, ' wulfcs-leag,' a district abounding in wolves — tliename of many localities in Saxon times. See the force of corruption in words, which thus brings, like Pha;drus, the Wolf and the Lamb together. For who Avould suspect, under cover of this fleecy name, the presence of the arch enemy of the fold ? Truly of this surname it may be predicated, that it is a wolf in sheep's clothing !
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English