Surname Woolcott - Meaning and Origin
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Woolcott: What does the surname Woolcott mean?
The last name Woolcott is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the old English personal name 'Wool' and 'Cot', which denoted someone who lived in, or near a cottage. In Old English, the term 'cot' was used to describe a small shelter made of wattle and daub, and occasionally timber framing.
The surname likely began as an occupational name for someone who either lived in a cottage or worked as a property or farm manager; they would have had a cottage for overnight stays near their place of work. The wool factor was likely derived from the fact that there were likely some sheep grazing nearby for them to tend to.
As settlers from the British Isles arrived in the United States, the surname Woolcott came with them. At this time, Woolcott typically had its own spelling variations, such as Woolcott, Woolcote, Wulcot, Wulcote, Wulcott, and Woolcot.
Today, the Woolcott last name is relatively common and is found all over the world. The modern interpretation of what it means to be a Woolcott remains largely the same; someone who lives in, or in the area of, a cottage. For this reason and for its long history, the last name Woolcott is a proud, distinguished surname that many people proudly bear.
Order DNA origin analysisWoolcott: Where does the name Woolcott come from?
The last name Woolcott is commonly found today in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. In the US, the highest concentration of Woolcott’s is found in the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York, while in the UK most Woolcott’s are found in Bristol, Berkshire, and Yorkshire. In Australia, Woolcotts can be found in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, while in Canada, the most common locations include Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario.
The surname Woolcott is usually derived from a place or location. In the UK, Woolcott comes from a village in North Yorkshire, England. In the US, Woolcott-related names like Wollcott or Woolcutt have their roots in English or Scottish place names of the same spelling.
Due to its geographical origin, the last name Woolcott is closely related to several other common names, such as Wolcott, Woolcutt, and Wollcott. Already referred to somewhat interchangeably during the 18th and 19th centuries, these name variations can still be found in the same area as Woolcotts today. All of these names share a strong connection through their common roots in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Variations of the surname Woolcott
The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Woolcott surname are Walcott, Wollcott, Wolcott, Woulcott, Woolcot, Wolcote, Wallcot, Wallcote, Woollcott, Woolecott, and Woulcote.
The Woolcott surname is believed to have derived from the place name Walcot, which is a village and former devisional manor in south eastern Shropshire, England. The name was likely adopted from the fresh water spring near the village, which is now known as Walcot Well.
The early forms of the Woolcott surname have been taken from old English words and would likely have been pronounced in the original dialect as Wale-cot, due to the inflection of the letter ‘a’ in old English words. This word is derived from the two old English terms Wad- and Cot, meaning water-cottage, and indicates the obvious physical features of the village at the time.
When the Woolcott name was adopted as a surname, it was likely subject to spelling variation due to the simplicity of the name and the fact that many people who were illiterate were relied upon to record the spellings of names, leading to the many variant spellings of Woolcott. Furthermore, migration to other areas of the world would often lead to linguistic and phonetic adjustments to the name due to local dialects. All of this has contributed to the various spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Woolcott
- Christopher Woolcott: Canadian comedian, actor, and TV host
- Francis Woolcott: American politician and entrepreneur
- Fletcher Woolcott Jr.: American filmmaker
- Billy Woolcott: British glam rock musician
- James Woolcott: Australian journalist
- John Woolcott: British diplomat
- Watkin Woolcott: English broadcaster and writer
- Probyn Woolcott: Canadian rugby player
- Fred Woolcott: Canadian civil servant
- Frank D. Woolcott: American lawyer
- William Henry Woolcott: American politician
- framing-FTE Lon Chaney Woolcott: American fighter in WWII
- Charles Woolcott: Canadian diplomat
- Charles Edward Woolcott: Canadian politician
- Margaret Woolcott: American author
- Tom Woolcott: Australia race car driver
- Mary Ann Woolcott: American actress
- John F. Woolcott: American politician
- Richard Woolcott: Australian diplomat