Opword History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Opword family

The surname Opword was first found in Huntingdonshire at Upwood, a parish, in the hundred of Hurstingstone. 1

The place name dates back to Saxon times when it was first recorded as Upwude in 974. 2 By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, the parish was known as Upehude 3 and literally meant "higher wood" or "the upper ward, or district" having been derived from the Old English "upp" + "wudu." 2 4

One of the first records of the family was Walter de Upwod who was listed there in 1258. 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two listings for the family both in Huntingdonshire: Thomas de Upwode; and Alice de Upwode. 6

Early History of the Opword family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Opword research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1697, 1776 and 1789 are included under the topic Early Opword History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Opword Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Upward, Upwood, Upwards and others.

Early Notables of the Opword family

More information is included under the topic Early Opword Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Opword family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Jeremiah Upward settled at Harry's Harbour, Newfoundland, in 1820; Edward Upward settled at New Harbour, Newfoundland, in 1835; Nehemiah Upward settled in Exploits district of Newfoundland in 1874.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)