Legendary Origin of the Metcalf Surname:

Two Saxon dalesmen were travelling through the forest, the one named Wilfred and the other Oswald. They were surprised to see what they thought to be a red coloured animal of large size, approaching them at a slow gait. Wilfred, seized with fear, thinking it was a lion, rushed off to the nearest hamlet. The more courageous Oswald confronted the animal and found it to be, not a lion, but a harmless red calf From that time forward he was known as Oswald Metcalf and his friend received the name of Wilfred Lightfoot