Wodehouse to Zouch

The archaic pronunciation of surnames has not always developed at the same pace as our language, and can cause confusion. The table below gives guidance on the pronunciation of a selection of English surnames - establishing the traditional pronunciation of a surname will ensure that you do not cause offence. 

Surname

Pronunciation

Wollaston

Wool-aston

Wolley

Wooly

Wolmer

Wool-mer

Wolrige

Wool-ridge

Wolseley

Wool-sli

Wombwell

Woom-well

Wontner

Wantner

Worsley

Wers-li or Werz-li

Wortley

Wert-li

Wriothesley

Rottisli

Wrottesley

Rotts-li

Wykeham

Wick-am

Wyllie

Wy-lie

Wyndham

Wind-'am

Wynford

Win-fud

Wynyard

Win-yard

Wythenshaw

With-in-shaw

Yeatman

Yaytman

Yerburgh

Yar-bra'

Yonge

Young

Zouch

Zooch

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