Surname Woolard - Meaning and Origin

Woolard: What does the surname Woolard mean?

The last name Woolard generally originated in England near the English-Scottish border. The name Woolard is likely derived from a Scottish or English term such as “woolward,” meaning “sheep keeper,” or “woolwarder,” meaning “one who guards wool.” This indicates that those with this last name were likely shepherds or merchants who dealt in wool-related goods.

The Woolard surname is most common in the southern United States, particularly in Alabama. This could be attributed to the fact that in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was common for English settlers to migrate to this area for business or farming opportunities. It is also possible that some people with the Woolard last name could be descended from British sailors who were stationed in the Caribbean and later settled in the US.

In more recent centuries, the Woolard name has spread beyond the American South. Still, those with the Woolard surname are likely to come from either English or Scottish origins, or some combination of the two. The Woolard name makes one part of a proud lineage of farmers, merchants, and seafarers who all played a major role in America’s history.

Woolard: Where does the name Woolard come from?

Today, the last name Woolard is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the Midwest, South, and Southern regions. The Woolard surname originated in England, where it was widely used in the Middle Ages.

The wool trade was popular in Britain during this time, so the families who traded wool often took the ‘-ward’ suffix in their surnames to signify their profession. In the 13th century, some of these families migrated to North America, bringing their surnames with them.

Today, Woolard is among the 1,000 most common last names in the United States, according to the 2000 Census. It is most prevalent in the southern states of Mississippi, South Carolina, and Georgia. It is also commonly found in Indiana, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Although the Woolard surname was used by people from many different backgrounds, it is especially associated with families of Scottish-Irish descent. These families often came to the Americas in the 1600s as indentured servants or political prisoners.

Woolard is not as prominent a name today as it once was due to the ease of mobility and the mixing of cultures. However, it is still one of the most common surnames in the southern United States, a testament to its long and varied history.

Variations of the surname Woolard

The Woolard surname originates in England where it is believed to have been derived from a location-based name, as in "one who lived at a place with a wool-yard," referring to a place where wool was stored. The Woolard spelling is the most common form of the name, but there are several variants, spelling variations, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common alternative spellings of Woolard include Woolward, Wolward, Woolwerd, Wolwerd, Wollard, and Wollward. In some instances, the "W-" has been dropped, resulting in spellings such as Olard, Ollard, Ollward, and Ooard. There are other spelling variations including Woollard, Woollard, Woolardre, Woolerd, Wollardre, Wollerd, and Wolard.

There are also several surnames of the same origin as Woolard; these include Wooler, Woolert, Woollard, Woolard, Wullard, Woolgar, Wallard, Worrall, and Wolferd.

The spelling variations for this name likely arose from the different accents and varieties of the English language spoken in different regions of England as well as from changes in spelling conventions over time. Thus, many individuals with the Woolard surname can trace their origin back to England.

Famous people with the name Woolard

• Chris Woolard: Chris Woolard is a British financial services regulator currently serving as Interim Chief Executive of the UK Financial Conduct Authority.
• Tex Woolard: Tex Woolard was an American professional wrestler who was active from the 1930s to the 1950s.
• Danny Woolard: Danny Woolard is an American football safety who is currently a free agent.
• Bill Woolard: Bill Woolard was a Major League Baseball player who played from 1940 to 1951.
• Gavin Woolard: Gavin Woolard is an American professional wrestler who is the current NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
• Homer Woolard: Homer Woolard was an American football coach who served as head coach of Marshall University and North Carolina State University.
• Lee Woolard: Lee Woolard is an American professional golfer who has been playing since the 1970s.
• Clement Woolard: Clement Woolard was an American actor who appeared in films and television from the 1950s to the 1970s.
• Ishmael Woolard: Ishmael Woolard was an American boxer who was active from the 1940s to the 1960s.
• Mary Woolard: Mary Woolard was an American actress who was best known for her roles in The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Other surnames

WoolacottWoolamWoolaston.