Woode History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The name Woode reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Woode 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 Woode family

The surname Woode 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 Woode family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woode 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 Woode History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woode Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Woode family name include Wood, Woods, Wode, Would, Woid, Voud, Vould and others.

Early Notables of the Woode family

Outstanding 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 Woode Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Woode family to Ireland

Some of the Woode 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.

Woode migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Woode family to immigrate North America:

Woode Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Walter Woode, who arrived in Maryland in 1661 1
Thomas Woode, who landed in Maryland in 1671 1

The Woode 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: Tutus in undis
Motto Translation: Safe on the waves.

Citations +

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)