Show ContentsElwoold History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Elwoold is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It comes from an ancient Chieftain titled Aldwold.

Early Origins of the Elwoold family

The surname Elwoold 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 Elwoold family

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

Elwoold Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Elwoold has undergone many spelling variations, including Elwood, Ellwood, Ellward, Elward and others.

Early Notables of the Elwoold family

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

Ireland Migration of the Elwoold family to Ireland

Some of the Elwoold 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 Elwoold family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Elwoold were among those contributors: 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 Elwoold 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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