Show ContentsKaywold History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Kaywold name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Yorkshire, where the name was taken from the town of Cawood in the county's West Riding. The place-name was first recorded as Kawuda in 963 AD and was originally derived from the Old English words ca, meaning jackdaw, and wudu meaning woods, and described a wood where by jackdaws were common.

Early Origins of the Kaywold family

The surname Kaywold was first found in North Yorkshire, where Cawood is a large village and civil parish in the Selby district. The village dates back to 963 when it was listed as Kawuda. 1 and was given by King Athelstan to the see of York, about 935, in the time of Archbishop Wulstan. Today it is better known as the place where the Cawood sword was found. It is regarded as "one of the finest Viking swords ever discovered" and is nearly 1,000 years old and can be seen at the Yorkshire Museum. This locale is also the home of Cawood Castle, a palace for the Archbishops of York which dates back to 1181. Today Cawood Castle is owned by the Landmark Trust.

Early History of the Kaywold family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kaywold research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1514 and 1572 are included under the topic Early Kaywold History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kaywold Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Kaywold were recorded, including Cawood, Kawood, Cawoode, Cawod and others.

Early Notables of the Kaywold family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kaywold Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kaywold family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Kaywold family emigrate to North America: Richard Cawood who arrived in Barbados in 1635; and later moved to St. Christopher; Ann Cawood who settled in Maryland in 1676.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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