Woodbeck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Woodbeck family

The surname Woodbeck was first found in Devon at Woodbury, a parish, and formerly a market-town, in the union of St. Thomas, hundred of East Budleigh. 1

The name is derived from the Old English word Wodebif meaning "the Stronghold by or in the Wood [Old English wudu + burh, burg (dat. byrig] " 2

Alternatively, the name could have originated in Woodborough, a parish, in the union of Basford, S. division of the wapentake of Thurgarton in Nottinghamshire. There is also a hamlet so named in Somerset and a parish named Woodborough in Wiltshire. 3

Nottinghamshire is the place where the family were first recorded for it is here that Ralph de Wudeburc was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1194. Years later, John de Wodeburgh was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1324. 4

Early History of the Woodbeck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woodbeck research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Woodbeck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woodbeck Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Woodbery, Woodbury, Woddisbery, WoodisBerry, Woodberry, Woddisberry, Woodburry, Woodborough, Woodborgh, Woddisbro, Woodbro, Wodeburg, Wodebury, Woodburgh, Woodbough, Woodberg and many more.

Early Notables of the Woodbeck family

More information is included under the topic Early Woodbeck Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Woodbeck family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. 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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)