| ![Show Contents]() Woody History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Woody came to England with the ancestors of the Woody family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Woody family lived in Leicestershire. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English word wode, meaning wood, and indicates that the original bearer lived near a wood. Early Origins of the Woody familyThe surname Woody was first found in Leicester, where they held land in Thorpe Arnold, under the Earl of Leicester. They were descended from Ernald de Vosco, a Norman knight, who came to Britain with the Norman invasion of 1066. After losing these lands, the main branch of the family moved north to Dumfriesshire, Scotland where they held a family seat from about 1150. Early History of the Woody familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woody research. Another 197 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1455, 1478, 1486, 1488, 1495, 1500, 1502, 1539, 1597, 1604, 1610, 1622, 1654, 1661, 1666, 1671, 1672, 1675, 1682 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Woody History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Woody Spelling VariationsMultitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Wood, Woods, Wode, Would, Woid, Voud, Vould and others. Early Notables of the Woody familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Wode KS (died 1502) was a British judge, appointed Justice of the Peace for Berkshire in 1478, was made a Serjeant-at-law in 1486 and in 1488 a King's Serjeant, in 1495 he was made a Puisne Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and in 1500 he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; Sir John Wood of Bonnytoun; Sir Andrew Wood (c.1455-1539) Scottish...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Woody Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Woody RankingIn the United States, the name Woody is the 1,664th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 1  Migration of the Woody family to Ireland
Some of the Woody family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Woody migration to the United States | + |
Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Woody or a variant listed above:
Woody Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Richard Woody, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1642 2
- Rob Woody, who landed in Virginia in 1653 2
Woody Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- John Woody, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 2
Woody Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Matthew Woody, who landed in Morgan County, Illinois in 1839 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Woody (post 1700) | + |
- Russ Woody, American Primetime Emmy Award winning producer
- Larry "Woodrow" Woody, American retired sports writer
- Joey Woody (b. 1973), American silver medalist track and field athlete at the 2003 World Championships
- Frank Hargrave Woody (1833-1912), American politician and judge, 1st Mayor of Missoula (1183-1884)
- Damien Michael Woody (b. 1977), American NFL football offensive lineman who played from 1999 to 2010, he has won two Super Bowl rings
- Arthur Woody (1884-1946), American forest ranger and conservationist who reintroduced deer to the North Georgia mountains
- Alanah Woody (1956-2007), American archeologist, anthropologist and professor
- Douglas Allen Woody (1955-2000), American bass guitarist, best known for his work with The Allman Brothers Band and The Artimus Pyle Band
- Robert E. Woody, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 7 aerial victories
- Woody Weatherman (b. 1965), American guitarist in Corrosion of Conformity
| Historic Events for the Woody family | + |
- Mr. Oscar Scott Woody (d. 1912), aged 44, American Postal Clerk from Clifton, Virginia who worked aboard the RMS Titanic, died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 3
USS Arizona - Mr. Harlan Fred Woody, American Seaman Second Class 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 4
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: Tutus in undis
Motto Translation: Safe on the waves.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- 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
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Woody migration to the United States 
England
Scotland
Ireland
