Surname Wollard - Meaning and Origin

Wollard: What does the surname Wollard mean?

The last name Wollard is a name of English origin, and likely derived from the Anglo-Norman British word “wolward” which means “guard”. This name was given to one who acted as a guardian for a manor house, or a watchman, to protect the home from intruders and enemies.

The Wollard surname might also have roots in Welsh and it is believed to have appeared in records in the 13th century in Wales. Some controversies exist surrounding the origin of the name. According to some, The Wollard surname may have been derived from the ancient Welsh personal name ‘Gwallt’, which means ‘mane’.

A third potential origin is from Norman-French, with the name being derived from the words ‘waulard’ or ‘wollard’. This Norman-French term likely referred to a ‘wild’ or ‘wild-hearted’ man, and the original name-holders who bore this surname could be described as such.

The coat of arms for the Wollard family is a silver lion rampant on a blue shield, alongside two red gauntlets. The lion is symbolic of strength, courage and mastery over wilderness, and the red gauntlets likely represent prowess in battle.

No matter what the origin, the Wollard surname has persisted throughout the years and is still used today by many families. Pass it on!

Wollard: Where does the name Wollard come from?

The last name Wollard is most commonly found in the United States today, with the highest concentrations in the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Wollard is an uncommon surname, as it ranks about 13,000th most common surname nationally.

The origin of the Wollard surname is particularly unique. It is derived from the Middle English name 'Wolhard' which comes from the Germanic name 'Wolthard' which was originally a form of the name 'Wolfhard'. The literal translation of Wolfhard is “brave of heart and strong in spirit”.

In the United States, the first Wollards settled in Maryland in the late seventeenth century. Most of the Wollards from this era were farmers and planters. The Wollard family spread as the pioneering spirit drove them south and westward. By the late 1800s, the number of Wollards in the United States had grown significantly, reaching numbers of over two thousand individuals.

Today, there are over eight thousand Wollards living in the United States. Major cities with the highest concentration of Wollards are Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charlotte, Nashville, and Dallas.

Overall, mostly due to its unique origin and limited spread, Wollard is an uncommon last name in the US. However, it is still widely found throughout the nation, especially in the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Variations of the surname Wollard

The surname Wollard is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the pre-7th century Olde English personal name "Wulfheard", composed of the elements "wulf" (meaning wolf) and "heard" (meaning brave or hardy). Variants of the Wollard surname include Woolard, Woolward, Woulard, Wepward, Woppard, Wollerd and Woolhead.

In the Middle Ages, when names were often recorded in several different ways with spellings varying considerably by scribe, Wollard was occasionally written as Wallard, Wollord, Wallerd or Wollerd. In Scotland there were spellings such as Wullard, Wollird, Woolard and Wallwark.

Spelling variations of the surname Wollard appeared even later, during the 1700s and 1800s. These variations include Willard, Willert, Wilyard, Willyarn, Wilard and Weillargh. Variations in the spelling of the surname can also be attributed to local dialects and the influence of other languages.

Variant spellings and surnames of Wollard have been found in other English-speaking countries, such as Canada and Australia, particularly among those immigrants who arrived there in the 19th century. Australian forms of the surname include Wooler, Woolers, Woolward and Woolgart, and Canadian variants include Woolard and Wooler.

Today, the Wollard name is most commonly found in England, and the English-speaking countries of America, Australia and Canada.

Famous people with the name Wollard

• Scott Wollard: Scott Wollard is an American politician currently serving as a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 39.
• Tom Wollard: Tom Wollard is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bristol North West from 1997 to 2010.
• Will Wollard: Will Wollard is a British Conservative politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chipping Barnet since 2019.
• Sam Wollard: Sam Wollard is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for National League South club Dulwich Hamlet.
• Tom Wollard: Tom Wollard is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South Central England from 1994 to 1999.
• Paul Wollard: Paul Wollard is an Australian actor best known for his role as John Aldridge in the television series All Saints.
• Bran Wollard: Bran Wollard is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
• Josh Wollard: Josh Wollard is an Australian professional lacrosse software player who currently plays for the Cleveland Rockers in the National Lacrosse League.
• Lance Wollard: Lance Wollard is a retired American sailor who served in the United States Coast Guard, earning the rank of Rear Admiral.

Other surnames

WollaceWollaston