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Woodward History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Woodward History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Woodward is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a forester. Looking back even further, we found the name was originally derived from the Old English words wode, meaning wood, and ward, meaning guardian or keeper. 1

Another source claims the name was from 'a woodward,' a forest officer who looked after wood and vert. 2

Early Origins of the Woodward family

The surname Woodward was first found in Essex where Commander Wadard 3 was granted lands by King William for his assistance at the Battle of Hastings. The first recorded scion of the family, (Falaise Roll,p 112,) Commander Wadard assembled King William's army at Saint Valery in Normandy for the invasion of England. It was he, Wadard, who advised King William of the Saxon King Harold's approach from the north at Hastings. He is depicted on the famous Bayeux Tapestry on a foraging expedition. His portrait suggests that he held a senior rank. His descendents, Henry and Simon Wadard, were still Lords of their respective Manors in Essex in 1278.

Other early listings of the name include: Sewhal le wuderward who was in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1208; Ralph de (sic) Wodeward who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire in 1230; and Robert Wodeward who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Aylward le Wodeward in Oxfordshire; and Adam le Wodewarde in Somerset. 2

Early History of the Woodward family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woodward research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1290, 1490, 1590, 1640, 1657, 1675, 1698, 1712 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Woodward History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woodward Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Woodward has been recorded under many different variations, including Woodward, Woodard, Woodwards, Woodyard, Wadard and many more.

Early Notables of the Woodward family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Hezekiah Woodward (1590-1675), an English nonconformist minister and educator, also involved in the pamphlet wars of the 1640s
Josiah Woodward (1657-1712), a Church of England clergyman and moral reformer

Woodward World Ranking

In the United States, the name Woodward is the 733^rd most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 4 However, in Australia, the name Woodward is ranked the 503^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,566 people with that name. 5 And in New Zealand, the name Woodward is the 491^st popular surname with an estimated 1,393 people with that name. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Woodward as 272^nd with 22,159 people. 7

Woodward migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Woodwards were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Woodward Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Henry Woodward, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Diana" 8
Christopher Woodward, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Tryall/Triall" 9
Henery Woodward, who landed in Virginia in 1624-1625 9
Mary Woodward, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1624 9
Nathaniel Woodward, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1630 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Woodward Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Woodward, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1712 9
Joseph Woodward, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 9
Samuel Woodward, who landed in America in 1760-1763 9

Woodward Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Woodward, who landed in New York in 1822 9
George Woodward, who arrived in New York in 1835 9
Thomas Woodward, who arrived in Mississippi in 1848 9
Jonah Woodward, who landed in Nebraska in 1870 9

Woodward migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Woodward Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Abraham Woodward U.E. born in New Jersey, USA who settled in Pennfield, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as signing the Quaker Agreement 10
Mr. Anthony Woodward U.E. born in New Jersey, USA who settled in Pennfield, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as signing the Quaker Agreement 10
Mr. Anthony Woodward Jr., U.E. born in New Jersey, USA who settled in Pennfield, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as signing the Quaker Agreement 10
Ms. Constant Woodward U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 10
Ms. Deborah Woodward U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Woodward Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Woodward, aged 35, a merchant, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the barque "Frederick" from Liverpool, England
Dewitt Clinton Woodward, who landed in Canada in 1840
Jessee Smith Woodward, who arrived in Canada in 1840
Joseph Woodward, an English youngster, first settler at Boat Harbour, Newfoundland in 1860 11

Woodward migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Woodward Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. John Woodward, English convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1825 12

Woodward Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Woodward, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. John Woodward, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for life, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. John Woodward, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
Mr. Benjamin Woodward, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Charles Kerr" on 6th June 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. John Woodward, English convict who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Woodward migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Woodward Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

J Woodward, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bolton
Mr Woodward, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Duke of Roxburgh 18
Samuel Woodward, aged 27, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 18
Rose Woodward, aged 17, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 18
Margaret Woodward, aged 27, a dressmaker, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Woodward (post 1700) +

Thomas Morgan Woodward (1925-2019), American actor, best known for his recurring role on the soap opera Dallas as Marvin "Punk" Anderson
Commander (USN) Neil W. Woodward III (b. 1962), American former NASA astronaut 19
Robert Burns Woodward (1917-1979), American Nobel Prize-winning organic chemist
Comer Vann Woodward (1908-1999), American historian
Bob Woodward (b. 1943), American journalist and author, assistant managing editor of The Washington Post
Timothy Oliver Woodward (1953-2023), English actor
Sir Arthur Smith Woodward (1864-1944), English palaeontologist
Edward Albert Arthur Woodward (1930-2009), English stage, film and television actor and singer
Mr. J. G. Woodward, British sheriff, who held the position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1870 to 1871
Lieutenant-General Sir Eric Winslow Woodward (1899-1967), Australian Commander in Chief, Eastern Command from 1953 to 1957 20
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Woodward family +

HMS Dorsetshire

John Woodward (d. 1945), British Steward aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 21

HMS Hood

Mr. Frederick J Woodward (b. 1896), English Warrant Electrician serving for the Royal Navy from Sutton, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 22

HMS Repulse

Mr. K A Woodward, British Petty Officer Airman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 23

RMS Titanic

Mr. John Wesley Woodward (d. 1912), aged 32, English Second Class passenger from Oxford, Oxfordshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24

USS Arizona

Mr. Ardenne Allen Woodward, American Machinist's Mate Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 25

The Woodward Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtus semper viret
Motto Translation: Virtue is always flourishing.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 1st February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charles-kerr
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Neil Woodward. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/woodward.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, September 8) Eric Woodward. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Woodward/Sir_Eric_Winslow/Australia.html
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html