Wood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Wood

What does the name Wood mean?

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

Sir John Wood of Bonnytoun
Sir Andrew Wood (c.1455-1539) Scottish naval commander
Sylvanus Wood (1604-1675), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654
Sir Henry Wood, 1st Baronet (1597-1671), an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1661 to 1671
Robert Wood or Woods (c.1622-1685), an English mathematician from Pepperharrow, Surrey
Abraham Wood (1610-1682), sometimes referred to as "General" or "Colonel" Wood, an English fur trader and explorer of 17th century colonial Virginia

Wood World Ranking

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

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Miss Margaret Wood, (b. 1771), aged 15, British settler convicted in London, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7
Mr. George Wood, (b. 1765), aged 24, British settler convicted at Devon, England in 1788, sentenced to 14 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8
Mr. William Wood, British settler convicted at Lincolnshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8
Mr. William Wood, British settler convicted at Warwickshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8
Mr. John Wood, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to Life for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8

Second Fleet

Mr. John Wood, British settler convicted in Derbyshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
Mr. Charles Wood, British settler convicted in Warwickshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
Mr. Charles Wood, British settler convicted in Devon, England in 1789, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "Atlantic" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
Mr. Henry Wood, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
Mr. George Wood, (d. 1791), British settler convicted in Surrey, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Atlantic" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8

Third Fleet

Miss Lucy Wood, (Brand) (b. 1753), aged 34, English settler convicted in London on 19th July 1786, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 8
Mr. George Wood, (b. 1763), aged 24, English settler convicted in London on 20th October 1784, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 8
Mr. Mark Wood, (b. 1765), aged 22, English shoemaker convicted in London on 29th October 1783, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Friendship" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 8

Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Wood Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. George Wood, British settler who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Ganges" on 31st July 1796, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Valentine Wood, (1763 - 1824), aged 33, British settler who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for stealing pewter pots, transported aboard the "Ganges" on 31st July 1796, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Charles Wood, (b. 1765), aged 32, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1837 9
Mr. William Wood, English convict who was convicted in Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Miss Ann Wood, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Barton Wood, (b. 1777), aged 23, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for fraud, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Edward Wood, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr.John Wood, British settler who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Fortune" on 31st October 1812, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. John Wood, (Leach), (b. 1789), aged 24, English shop man who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. Ezekiel Wood, (b. 1792), aged 23, English convict who was convicted in Nothumberland, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1826 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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

Pelig Wood, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1830
Mr. Wood, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Dublin Packet" arriving in Cloudy Bay, South Island, New Zealand in 1838 15
William Wood, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
George Wood, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
John R Wood, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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. 16

Wood Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. John Wood, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 17
Mr. John Wood, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 17
Mr. Symon Wood, (b. 1621), aged 14, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 18
Mr. Thomas Wood, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 19

Wood migration to Canada +

Wood Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Widow Wood and her children settled in Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland in 1676 20

Wood Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Francis Wood U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 43 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 21
Mrs. Ann Wood U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 91 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 21
Mr. James Wood S.U.E. (b. 1781), aged 1 1/2 years who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 24 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 21
Miss. Ann Wood D.U.E. (b. 1782), aged 1 who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 25 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 21
Miss. Betty Wood D.U.E. (b. 1781), aged 2 who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 33 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 21
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wood Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Henry Wood, who arrived in Newfoundland in 1802 20
Robert Wood, aged 33, a farmer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
Helen Wood, aged 30, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
John Wood, aged 9, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
James Wood, aged 7, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wood migration to the United States +

Wood Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Wood, aged 35, who had settled in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "George"
Abraham Wood, aged 10, who landed in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Margaret & John" 22
Percevall Wood, who landed in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "George" 23
Mrs. Ann Wood, who landed in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "George" with husband Percevall 23
Mr. John Wood, aged 26, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 23
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wood Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anne Wood, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 22
Amy Wood, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 22
Alexander Wood, who landed in Carolina in 1707 22
Awbray Wood, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1726 22
Elizabeth Wood, who arrived in Georgia in 1735 22
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

David Wood, who arrived in New York in 1801 22
Isabella Wood, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 22
Hartlay Wood, aged 49, who arrived in Rhode Island in 1812 22
Francis Wood, aged 39, who landed in New York in 1812 22
Ann Wood, aged 18, who landed in West Indies in 1812 22
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wood Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Franklin Austin Wood, who arrived in Mississippi in 1900 22

Contemporary Notables of the name Wood (post 1700) +

Jesse Dunford Wood, English chef and restaurateur
Royden Wood (1930-2023), English footballer who played as a goalkeeper, best known for his stint with Leeds United (1952-1959)
Peter George Wood (1951-2022), English first-class cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire in 1981
Alfred Edward Howson "Alf" Wood (1945-2020), English footballer who played from 1963 to 1978
Charles Wood (1932-2020), Guernsey-born, English playwright and scriptwriter for radio, television, and film
Victoria Wood CBE (1953-2016), English two-time BAFTA Award winning comedian, actress, singer and songwriter
Peter Wood (1925-2016), English theatre and film director
Christopher Hovelle Wood (1935-2015), English screenwriter and novelist who wrote as Timothy Lea, best known for his two James Bond adaptations: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979)
Russell Brown "Rusty" Wood (1929-2015), English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire (1950-1951)
... (Another 61 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Wood family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. Irvine Kirkham Wood (1907-1979), New Zealander passenger, from, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 24
Mrs. Barbara Annie Wood (1913-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Kiwitea, Wanganui-Manawatu, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 25
Mr. Lawrence A Wood (1951-1985), American Staff Sergeant from Everett, Washington, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 25
Allan Wood (1920-1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
Leonard Sydney Wood (1919-1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
... (Another 45 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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.

Sources +

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"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550