Surname Wosencroft - Meaning and Origin

Wosencroft: What does the surname Wosencroft mean?

The last name Wosencroft is of English origin and is believed to be a variant of the surname Worsencrat, which itself is derived from an old English term of personal description meaning "one from the sour cot (or cottage)". This surname likely referred to someone who lived in a particular residence, which was referred to as a "sour cot". The Wosencroft name may be more associated with a particular geographical area or location, given their origin as a habitational or locational name.

Wosencroft is an uncommon surname and was likely acquired through marriage or adoption rather than inheriting the name over generations. In 2020 there was a small number of Wosencroft's living in the United States and a tiny fraction in the United Kingdom. It is believed to be a relatively modern last name, likely becoming prominent in the late 1700s or early 1800s.

The Wosencroft surname is unique and shows strength and endurance of a family to distinguish and carry on a surname for many generations. Today, Wosencroft's can be found across the world in many different countries and their surname remains a reminder of their past.

Wosencroft: Where does the name Wosencroft come from?

The last name Wosencroft is not particularly common today, though it can be found in pockets throughout the world. It most commonly appears in the United Kingdom, having originated there centuries ago. This is unsurprising as the majority of surnames in the UK derive from Norman influence and are derived from Old French. Wosencroft, in particular, is believed to be a habitational surname, likely referring to a former geographical location in France. The name Wosencroft may possibly have originated from the French phrase 'ouvres croft', which translates to 'oven croft'. This suggests one of Wosencroft's ancestors had held a position of some influence at an estate and was rewarded with land to till. The name is also rumored to have been taken by occupiers of a prominent hunting area in Yorkshire or Rutland.

The surname Wosencroft can also be found in Australia as the first settlers bearing the name arrived in the 1700s. This name can also be found in the United States and Canada, both countries having welcomed many of the earliest settlers of this name. Today, Wosencroft is a relatively uncommon surname, having largely faded from use amongst today's generations.

Variations of the surname Wosencroft

The surname Wosencroft has many variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variants include Wosencraft, Wosencroff, Wosencrift, Woscroft, and Woscroft. These are all various English surnames with similar pronunciations and similar roots.

The most common surname variant is Wosencraft, which has been around since the 1700s in Scotland. The first recorded bearer was William Wosencraft, who was a landholder in Biggar, Lanarkshire in the year 2908. A branch of this family eventually moved to America and settled in Pennsylvania in the mid-1800s.

The surname Wosencrift has its roots in England and dates back to the 1500s. The first recorded user of this name was Edmund Wosencrift, who was a resident of County Oxfordshire in the year 1581.

Woscroft is another variant of Wosencroft, first recorded by an individual surnamed Roger in the 1600s. The Woscroft spelling, however, is more common in America and dates back to the 1700s with a certain Josiah Woscroft, who is documented as being a resident of Pennsylvania.

Another variant, Wosencroff, is believed to have originated in Germany and is first documented in the 1700s. This surname is still widespread in Germany today, but there are also people with the name in the United States.

These are some of the common variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Wosencroft, illustrative of how surnames can change over time and across different countries.

Famous people with the name Wosencroft

• Jon Wosencroft: former managing director and chairman of the board of Barclays Bank.
• Michael Wosencroft: executive director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.
• Philip Wosencroft: retired Australian politician and lawyer.
• Sharon Wosencroft: Australian rules footballer.
• Stafford Wosencroft: Jamaican High Court judge.
• Steve Wosencroft: former English professional footballer.
• Thomas Wosencroft: British Liberal Party politician and barrister.
• Wally Wosencroft: retired wrestler from England.
• William Wosencroft: former mayor of Dayton, Ohio.
• Abraham Wosencroft: Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh.
• Adrian Wosencroft: former Assistant Commissioner of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
• Greg Wosencroft: former Australian rules footballer.
• Lionel Wosencroft: hacker who hacked the United States military.
• Mark Wosencroft: former Chairman of the Welsh Conservatives.
• Richard Wosencroft: former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland.
• Rob Wosencroft: former English professional footballer.
• Trevor Wosencroft: former chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Other surnames

Wosencraft