Hegwood History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe ancestors of the name Hegwood date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Hegwood family lived in Sussex where the name literally means "the wood frequented by hawks." 1 Early Origins of the Hegwood familyThe surname Hegwood was first found in Sussex where the family name was first referenced in the year 1230 when John Hackwude held estates in that county. Over one hundred years later, John de Haukwode was listed in the Feet of Fines of 1343 and John de Hawkwod was listed in the Assize Rolls of Essex in 1351. 2 Sir John Hawkwood (c. 1320-1394) was an English mercenary or condottiere active in 14th century Italy. He was the "second son of Gilbert de Hawkwood of Hedingham Sibil, Hinckford, Essex, a tanner, was born in that place early in the fourteenth century. Gilbert de Hawkwood was a man of substance and gentle blood, the family having held land at Hedingham Sibil since the reign of John. He is also said to have been impressed for the French wars, and to have served as an archer in the army of Edward III." 3 Early History of the Hegwood familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hegwood research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Hegwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hegwood Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Hegwood are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Hegwood include: Hackwood, Hakewood, Hawkwood, Haykwood, Hakwood, Ackwood, Akwood, Hackward and many more. Early Notables of the Hegwood familyDistinguished members of the family include the Hackwood of Sussex; and Sir John Hawkwood (died 1394), an English mercenary who was active in 14th century Italy. Known by the French as "Jean Haccoude" and the Italians as "Giovanni Acuto" he served first the Pope and then various groups in Italy for... Hegwood RankingIn the United States, the name Hegwood is the 10,067th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Hegwood or a variant listed above: Hegwood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
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