Wood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 


When the ancestors of the Wood family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They 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 Wood family

The surname Wood 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 Wood family

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

Wood Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Wood has been recorded under many different variations, including Wood, Woods, Wode, Would, Woid, Voud, Vould and others.

Early Notables of the Wood family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Wood World Ranking

In the United States, the name Wood is the 78th most popular surname with an estimated 243,726 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Wood is ranked the 69th most popular surname with an estimated 33,348 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Wood is the 42nd popular surname with an estimated 42,162 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Wood as 80th with 4,576 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Wood as 21st with 116,685 people. 5 South Africa ranks Wood as 868th with 8,073 people. 6

Migration of the Wood family to Ireland

Some of the Wood 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.


Wood migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Woods were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Wood Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Wood Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Wood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Wood Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Wood migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wood Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Wood Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Wood Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Wood migration to Australia +

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

Wood Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Wood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Wood 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:

Wood Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Wood migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 19
Wood Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Wood (post 1700) +


The Wood 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.


Suggested Readings for the name Wood +
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