Show ContentsEllwude History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the name Ellwude are from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from an ancient Chieftain titled Aldwold.

Early Origins of the Ellwude family

The surname Ellwude was first found in Gloucestershire at Ellwood, a hamlet in the Forest of Dean district. It is thought that the name could have had two origins: as a local name, as in someone from the aforementioned village; and having derived from the Old English personal name Aelfweald which has the elements oelf meaning "elf" + weald meaning "rule." 1 "Several tenants in chief in the Domesday [Book] are called Alwoldus or Aldwold, a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon Aethelwald. " 2

Early History of the Ellwude family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ellwude research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1639, 1713 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ellwude History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ellwude Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Ellwude family name include Elwood, Ellwood, Ellward, Elward and others.

Early Notables of the Ellwude family

Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ellwude Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Ellwude family to Ireland

Some of the Ellwude family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ellwude family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Ellwude surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Ralph Ellwood who settled in New England in 1635; Cipper Ellwood settled in Jamaica in 1685; Thomas Ellwood settled in Pennsylvania in 1682 with his wife and son and daughter.



The Ellwude 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: Fide et sedulitate
Motto Translation: With faith and diligence.


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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