The Woulfes, or Wolfes, are a family of Norman origin who first came to Ireland at the time of the invasion at the end of the twelfth century. In Irish the name is usually written de Bhulbh, but le would be more fitting than de since the Norman form is Le Woulf (the wolf). Though both influential and fairly numerous they never actually formed a sept on the Irish model, as did several of the Anglo-Norman invading families. From the beginning they settled in two widely separated areas. In Co. Kildare they became so well established that their territory near Athy was known as Woulfe's Country; the Wolfs of Forenaughts, Co. Kildare were still extensive landowners in that county and also in Co. Limerick in 1880. In modern times their homeland is in Co. Limerick, the second of their original settlements. They held extensive lands in the modern Counties Cork and Limerick, much of which was lost as a result of their participation in the Geraldine War towards the end of the sixteenth century. Two generations later they were identified with the resistance to Cromwell, tow of the name being expressly exempted from pardon after the famous siege of Limerick in 1651. The name also occurs frequently in the records of that city up to that date. One of these, Capt. George Woulfe, was the great-great-grandfather of General James Woulfe (1727-1759), the hero of Quebec, who was thus of Irish (Limerick) descent. distinguished Irishmen of the name have been numerous, including Rev. David Woulfe, S.J. (1523-1578), Papal Legate, whose description of Ireland written in 1574 is of great interest; Father James Woulf, O.P., hanged after the Siege of Limerick in 1651, Peter Woulfe (1727-1803), mineralogist and inventor of Wolfe's bottle; Stephen Woulfe (1787-1840), advocate of Catholic Emancipation but later an opponent of Daniel O'Connell - all of the Limerick branch, as was Father Patrick Woulfe (d. 1933), author of Irish Names and Surnames. Arthur Woulfe (1739-1803), killed in the Emmet Rising, John Woolfe (B.C.. 1740), a notable architect, and Rev. Charles Wolfe (1791-1823), author of the well-known poem "The Burial of sir John Moore", were all from Co. Kildare. Irish Woulfes were also prominent in France at the time of the French Revolution both as military officers and churchmen. While it can be said that Irish Woulfes to-day are of the Norman stock dealt with above it should be mentioned that there is a surname Ulf, anglice Woulfe, which according to Professor Edmund Curtis is of Norse origin and pre-Anglo-Norman. There is also an indigenous Gaelic surname O Mactire, belonging to East Cork, which was anglicized as Woulfe or Wolfe, mactire being the Irish word for Wolf. A bishop Oonahan O Mactire, probably of Cloyne, died in 1099, and another Mactire also appears in the Four Masters as tanist of Teffia, but there appears to be no record of this name in its Gaelic form since early mediaeval times.