Surname Wootton - Meaning and Origin

Wootton: What does the surname Wootton mean?

The last name Wootton is derived from an ancient English place name meaning 'wooded hill'. It is believed that the Wootton surname was first used in the English counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Derbyshire by the 11th and 12th centuries, when land was owned by those with the same family name.

Woottons were originally peasant farmers; however, by the 16th and 17th centuries, many of the members of this powerful family had acquired considerable wealth. This included Sir William Wootton, the 15th century MP for Leicestershire, who was also the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and the leading man of arms of Richard III.

The Woottons are known for their loyalty to the Crown and many served as prominent figures in the government and military. They have also held significant titles such as High Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, and Deputy Lieutenant throughout the years.

Today, the Woottons continue to be a prominent family; in more recent times, the Woottons have expanded into the military, politics, business, and sports.

Overall, the surname Wootton signifies power and prestige, as well as a long-standing loyalty to the crown. The Wootton name has withstood the tests of time and is a name of distinction and a lasting symbol of achievement throughout history.

Wootton: Where does the name Wootton come from?

The last name Wootton is today common in parts of England, Wales and Australia. It was first recorded in the 14th century, making it one of the oldest surnames in the English language. The earliest records of this surname come from the counties of Somerset, Gloucester and Wiltshire in the southwest of England. It likely derived from the Old English words ‘wudu’ (wood) and ‘tun’ (town or settlement).

Today the last name Wootton is most common in England. It is the 63rd most common surname there, with 4,071 people recorded as having the last name in the 1881 Census. That number has likely only increased over time, although many Wootton families may now have different spelling variants of the name.

In Wales, the last name Wootton is less common. Only 42 people in the 2016 Welsh Census had the last name Wootton, making up 0.001% of the Wales population at the time.

In Australia, the Wootton family are thought to have arrived as early as 1845, and today it is the 510th most common surname, according to Ancestry.com. Of the Australian Wootton families, many hail from the states of Queensland and New South Wales.

Variations of the surname Wootton

The surname Wootton is a habitational surname that originated in Warwick and Staffordshire in England. It can have various alternate spellings including Wooten, Wotton, Wooton, Wootten and Wouten.

The surname Wootton is derived from the Old English word uotte meaning a headland or a bend in a river or a wood. It was likely used to describe a person who lived near a bend in a river, headland or wood.

Variants of the surname Wootton include Wooten, Wotton, Wooton, Wootten, and Wouten.

The first recorded spelling of the surname Wootton is found in the 1086 Domesday Book of England. During the Middle Ages, it was often common for individuals and families to adopt alternate spellings to accommodate variations in dialects, local accents, or even the fact that some people, even those with similar surnames, had difficulty writing in the Latin alphabet.

In some cases the variants Wootten, Wouten and Wooton may be found in Britain as surnames of Dutch origin, since Dutch traders first brought Wootten to Britain in the 17th century.

Variations of the surname Wootton may be found in other countries such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, and South Africa, as well as in other parts of Europe. Variations of the surname have also been found in Scotland and Scotland as far north as Orkney and Shetland.

The Wootton surname can also be found in combination with other surnames such as Wootten-Wilson, Wooton-Butler and Wooten-Evans.

There are also alternate variations of the surname Wootton, such as Wouten, Wotton, Wooten, Wooton, and Wootten.

Famous people with the name Wootton

• David Wootton: English historian and academic
• Albert Wootton: English cricketer
• Wayne Wootton: English rugby league player
• Steve Wootton: British racing driver
• Alfred Wootton: English recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Jack Wootton: former Australian rules footballer
• Tommy Wootton: former Australian rules footballer
• Gaylord Wootton: former soccer goalkeeper
• William Rush Wootton: American politician
• Dean Wootton: New Zealand former rugby league player
• Bernie Wootton: former Australian rules footballer
• John Wootton: English artist
• Fred Wootton: American sculptor
• Richard Wootton: English actor and writer
• Pete Wootton: English footballer and manager
• Barry Wootton: British Television executive
• Simon Wootton: English former workaholic
• Andrew Wootton: English cricketer

Other surnames

Wootten