Contents [hide]

Elwood History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Elwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Elwood is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that is derived from an ancient Chieftain titled Aldwold.

Early Origins of the Elwood family

The surname Elwood was first found in Gloucestershire at Ellwood, a hamlet in the Forest of Dean district. It is thought that the name could have had two origins: as a local name, as in someone from the aforementioned village; and having derived from the Old English personal name Aelfweald which has the elements oelf meaning "elf" + weald meaning "rule." 1 "Several tenants in chief in the Domesday [Book] are called Alwoldus or Aldwold, a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon Aethelwald. " 2

Early History of the Elwood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elwood research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1639, 1713 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Elwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elwood Spelling Variations

Elwood has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Elwood have been found, including Elwood, Ellwood, Ellward, Elward and others.

Early Notables of the Elwood family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Colonel Charles Elwood

Elwood Ranking

In the United States, the name Elwood is the 5,922^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Elwood family to Ireland

Some of the Elwood family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elwood migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Elwoods to arrive on North American shores:

Elwood Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henery Elwood, who landed in Virginia in 1624-1625 aboard the ship "Francis Bonaventure" 4
John Elwood, who arrived in Virginia in 1645 4
Thomas Elwood, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 4

Elwood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Elwood, who landed in New York in 1834 4
L Elwood, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4

Elwood Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Bridget Elwood, aged 34, who landed in America from Galway, in 1903
Charles Elwood, aged 11, who immigrated to the United States from Stokestown, in 1903
Annie Elwood, aged 23, who landed in America from Kilkelly, Ireland, in 1910
Calhoun J. Elwood, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States, in 1911
Deda Elwood, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1913
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Elwood migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Elwood Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Arthur Elwood, aged 29, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1914

Elwood migration to Australia +

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

Elwood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Hilford Elwood Mr. settled in New South Wales, Australia in 1823 5
B. Elwood, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Spartan" in 1849 6
Alicia Elwood, aged 31, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Fortune" 7
Mary A. Elwood, aged 34, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Fortune" 7

Elwood 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:

Elwood Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Elwood, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 8
Mr. John Elwood, (b. 1852), aged 22, Irish farm labourer from Galway travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 9
Mr. Michael Elwood, (b. 1848), aged 26, Irish farm labourer from Galway travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Elwood (post 1700) +

Patrick Elwood, American broadcaster who can be seen on WFLD's Fox News Chicago in Chicago, Illinois
Paul Elwood, American composer and banjo player
Roger Elwood (b. 1933), American science fiction writer and editor
Michael Elwood, Texas-based singer/songwriter and a fine lyricist
Hugh M. Elwood, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Marine Corps, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
John Elwood Clark Jr. (1931-2022), American politician and businessman who served as 48th Mayor of Portland, Oregon, from 1985 to 1992
Robert Elwood Bly (1926-2021), American poet, essayist, activist, and leader of the mythopoetic men's movement, he won the 1968 National Book Award for Poetry for his book The Light Around the Body
Thomas Elwood Knotts (1861-1921), American politician, the first mayor of the city of Gary, Indiana
Charles Elwood Holmes, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1932 10
C. Elwood Stringfield, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1916 11

The Elwood 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: Fide et sedulitate
Motto Translation: With faith and diligence.

Citations +

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
"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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SPARTAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Spartan.htm
South Australian Register Thursday 8th June 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Fortune 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/fortune1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, August 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html