Allwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The origins of the Allwood surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Allwood began when someone in that family worked as a keeper of a hall. The surname Allwood is composed of the elements hall, which denoted one who was employed at such a manor-house or hall, and ward, which was originally applied to one who was a watchman. 1

"The Domesday Book Æluuard, Aluuard, Eluuardus may represent OE Ælfweard ‘elf guard’ which is clearly represented above or OE Æðelweard ‘noble guard’ which survives as Aylward and also appears as Alward. In the 12th century the two names were confused." 2 But earlier records show "AElward and Ailward were personal names before 1086. 3

Early Origins of the Allwood family

The surname Allwood was first found in Suffolk at Bury St Edmunds where the first entries for the name were singularly Aluardus (1182-1186), and Alfwardus pistor (1200-1211.) 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for Bernard Aylward, Wiltshire; Beatrix Aylward, Buckinghamshire; and Alan Alward, Cambridgeshire. 4 In Norfolk, records there show John Ayleward, Norwich, 1325 and Hamond Ayleward, vicar of Swardeston, Norfolk, 1376. 5 Early Somerset records show Nicholas Alyward, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign. 6

In Scotland, "John Aluart was "office bearer," [and was] probably procurator of the Scottish Nation in the University of Orleans, 1418." 7

Early History of the Allwood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Allwood research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1626 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Allwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Allwood Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Allwood has appeared include Allward, Alward, Alwood, Allwood, Alwart, Ailward, Alyward, Aylward, Ailard, Allard, Aillard, Ailard and many more.

Early Notables of the Allwood family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Allwood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Allwood family to Ireland

Some of the Allwood family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Allwood migration to Australia +

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

Allwood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Stephen Allwood, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Charles Allwood, aged 44, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Amazon"
Hannah Allwood, aged 14, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Amazon"

Allwood 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:

Allwood Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Allwood, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edinburgh Castle" in 1873
George Allwood, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874
Emma Allwood, aged 26, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 9
A. F. Allwood, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1881

Contemporary Notables of the name Allwood (post 1700) +

Rev. Canon Robert Allwood (1803-1891), English-born clergyman and academic in Sydney Australia
Ralph Allwood MBE (b. 1950), English Precentor and Director of Music at Eton College

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html