Surname Armwood - Meaning and Origin
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Armwood: What does the surname Armwood mean?
The last name Armwood is generally of Anglo-Saxon or Old English origin and is associated with the town or village of Armwood in Lancashire, England.
Armwood may also be derived from armon or shermen, which signify a dwelling near an arms pool or a marshy place. It may also be taken from the old English words "arm" and "wood", meaning woods by the hill.
The family of Armwood has a long history in England with connections to Lancashire from the Middle Ages. They were minor landowners and farmers, as well as associated with the mining industry and public service.
The Armwood family were good patrons of the church and were involved in the building of many churches in the region. In the 19th century, the family name was also associated with educational institutions.
The Armwood surname is common in most of the United Kingdom and has spread to America. It is a strong name with an honorable past and can be proud of its entrenched heritage in England and commonwealth countries, particularly the United States, for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisArmwood: Where does the name Armwood come from?
The last name Armwood is most commonly found in the United States today, although it also exists in small numbers in other countries. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 population survey, the Armwood surname was found in each of the 50 states with the highest concentrations in Louisiana and New York.
Armwood is an Americanized version of the Old English and French name Aumont, which is thought to derive from the town of Aumont in Normandy, France. The first recorded instance of the Armwood name in the U.S. occurred in 1604, when Richard Aumont was granted permission to settle in Jamestown, Virginia.
The Armwood surname is also well-known among African Americans with more than four percent of people living in Louisiana and Alabama having the name per the census survey. This can be attributed to the fact that many African Americans with the Armwood surname are descended from Jamaican slaves who were transported to the U.S. in the early to mid-1800s.
Today, the U.S. Census Bureau lists Armwood as the 7,356th most common surname in the country, indicating a relatively small but widespread presence. The surname is also occasionally seen in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Variations of the surname Armwood
The Armwood surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of the name is the alternate spelling Arwood, which is found most prevalently in the UK. Other variants include Arumwood, Arrmwood, Armvood, Armowe, and Arimwood.
In English records, the Armwood family can also be found under the surname Armitage, which is derived from the old French word ‘armeteys’ meaning ‘arms’. This is likely due to a familial association with arms or arms-bearing.
In Scottish records, the repayment of debts or land purchases was often made with an "Armmount" and Armwood is derived from this practice.
In Ireland, variations of Armwood can be found in the form of Airmett, Airmet, and Armitage. The Irish Connaught surnames Airmet and Airmett are derived from the old Irish Armitaige which is also derived from the French 'armeteys.'
Finally, surnames such as Armitstead, Armory, ARMOR, and Armorwood all originated from the same origin as Armwood. The meaning of these surnames is also related to arms or arms-bearing which tie them into the Armwood family.
Famous people with the name Armwood
- Ulys Armwood: football player for the Baltimore Ravens
- Chris Armwood: musician and singer best known for his work with The Rolling Stones
- Jane Armwood: actress and comedian
- Mark Armwood: Olympic Gold Medalist in DECathlon
- Mike Armwood: NFL football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Chad Armwood: former MLB player for the San Diego Padres
- Justin Armwood: basketball player for the Michigan Wolverines
- Stephen Armwood: Celebrity chef and restaurateur
- Lyndon Armwood: Academy Award-winning cinematographer
- Terrence Armwood: former NBA All-Star player for the Los Angeles Lakers