Surname Kerwood - Meaning and Origin
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Kerwood: What does the surname Kerwood mean?
Kerwood is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name is derived from Ceorl, an Old English name meaning “citizen” or “freeman”. The name may have originally been derived from ceorl, a term used to describe someone who held land but didn’t owe allegiance to a particular lord.
Other theories suggest that the name is derived from the Old English word “ceorlwearde”, meaning “a custodian of a ceorl’s estate”. It is possible that the name originally referred to someone who was a steward or guardian of a minor noble’s land.
The name Kerwood may have also been derived from the Old English words “cyric” and “wode”, or “church wood”, which would indicate that the original bearer of the name held a piece of land belonging to the church.
The Kerwood surname can be found in records dating back to the 12th century in England. It just one of the many surnames derived from English places and occupations. Those bearing this name still remain largely concentrated in the British Isles, particularly in areas such as Norfolk and Suffolk.
Order DNA origin analysisKerwood: Where does the name Kerwood come from?
The surname Kerwood is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word ‘ceorl’, meaning a free peasant or a person of low social rank. Given its English origins, the surname is most commonly found today in Great Britain and its former colonies, particularly Canada, Australia, and the United States.
Within Great Britain, particularly England and Wales, the surname is most commonly associated with metropolitan areas such as London and Birmingham. However, it is by no means concentrated in these cities and can still be found in smaller rural and coastal towns and villages.
The surname Kerwood can be found in the United States in all of the original 13 colonies, as well as other states that were part of the original United States. Indeed, in the 1990 U.S. Census, the surname was recorded in all 50 American states. Today, the surname is most ‘concentrated’ in the southern states of Florida and Texas.
In Canada, the surname is particularly associated with Ontario and the Canadian Maritimes. It is most commonly found in metropolitan areas such as Toronto and Ottawa, though it can still be found to some extent in rural and coastal areas.
Overall, the surname Kerwood is most commonly associated with Great Britain and its former colonies, particularly the United States, Canada and Australia. However, it can still be found to some extent in other countries, such as those in Europe and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Kerwood
Kerwood is an Ancient English surname which has a few different variants and spellings as well as some surnames of a similar origin.
The most common variants of Kerwood include: Kerwood, Kerwerd, Kerwerde, Kerword, and Kerewood. All of these variants can be traced back to the same origin of the surname.
Spelling variants of the surname include the hyphenated form Ker-wood as well as the alternative spellings Kerewode and Kerewood.
In some cases, Kerwood is found to be spelled beginning with a 'C' as in Curwood, Cirwood, or Cawood.
Surnames of a similar origin to Kerwood include Kerrod, Kerwode, Kerwoode, Ketwood, Kirtwood, Kiywood, and Kirkwood. Many of these surnames are spelled differently than Kerwood but share the same root name.
The spelling and variations of Kerwood have changed over time due to the migration of families with the surname, and the influence of other languages such as French and Spanish. These changes can make it difficult to trace family history and lineage. However, understanding spelling variants and surnames of the same origin can give insight into the family history of the Kerwood surname.
Famous people with the name Kerwood
- Michael Kerwood: British actor best known for Doctor Who and The Bill
- Richard Kerwood: Canadian ice hockey player
- Christopher Kerwood: British Olympic rower at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- C.K. Kerwood: Canadian Fighter Pilot who served in World War II
- Robert Kerwood: New Zealand rugby union player
- Ian Kerwood: British Actor, Film and Television Director
- Sandra Kerwood: British Artist
- John Kerwood: Australian writer, historian, and activist
- Sam Kerwood: British Footballer
- Gary Kerwood: British professional dancer