Womack

This very unusual name appears to be of Northern and probably Lincolnshire origins. Found in the early spellings as Woomack, Wommock, Womacke etc.. The name is particularly associated with the villages of Wragby, Near Pontefract (Yorkshire) and Worlaby by Brigg in Lincolnshire. The origin is topographical and derives from the Old English pre 7th Century female name "Wulerun" plus "Ac" meaning "oak tree", in other words the dweller by the oad(s) of Wulfrun, the prominent oak trees were often used as the local meeting place of the "tribes". The examples of the name recordings include Thomas Woomack of Wragby, on December 15th 1622, whilst by 1674, the spelling in Womack, another Thomas being recorded as Thomas Womack also at Wragby on June 2nd of that year. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Whomac, which was dated February 18th 1584, a christening witness at St. Peter's, Torkcey, Lincolnshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.