Wolverson Family History

Perhaps from Wolston (Warwicks), recorded as Wlfreston in 1252 and Wulveston in 1535, with loss of -t- in the surname (compare Woolson and Woolston). The surname could also be from Woolverstone (Suffolk), and so the concentration of the name in Staffs might be a result of migration.

The Suffolk place-name is recorded as Uluerestuna in 1086 and derives from the Old English personal name Wulfhere (genitive Wulfheres) + Old English tūn, meaning ‘farmstead estate’. For the Warwicks place-name, see Woolston.

Alternatively, it may be a variant of Wollaston, from Woollaston in Bradley (Staffs), recorded as Wollaveston in 120. Compare Emma Wolveston 1843 and James Wolverson or Woolaston 1868 in IGI (Walsall Wood, Staffs).

Though these variants may simply reflect confusion of distinct surnames with similar forms, they highlight the complexity of surname origins and migrations in the region.