Surname Markwood - Meaning and Origin

Markwood: What does the surname Markwood mean?

The last name Markwood is believed to be an anglicised form of the German surname Marchew, which is derived from the old German word 'marc', meaning 'horse'. The surname suggests that the original bearer of the name was a horse trader.

In medieval and early modern times, many surnames were derived from occupations. People often took a name that described their profession or trade, so it's very possible that the original bearer of the surname Markwood was involved in the horse trading business.

The last name Markwood has also been suggested to possibly have Norman-French origins. This is because it has been recorded in areas with a large Norman-French population. It is believed that the name could have been anglicised from the French Surname Marcueil which comes from the French word Marche, which also means 'horse'.

The last name Markwood is quite a rare surname, but it can be found in England, Scotland, France, and Germany. It is also possible to trace a clear path of the surname's presence and use over the centuries. It is believed that the surname was first recorded in England in the 14th century.

These days, the last name Markwood is not used very often, but it is still a part of family histories around the world. It is a reminder of how our ancestors used occupation-derived surnames, and how our families have been connected by location and language for centuries.

Markwood: Where does the name Markwood come from?

The last name Markwood is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the U.S. Census recorded in 2010, the Markwood surname held the 10,013th spot on the list of popular surnames. An investigation into the origins of this name indicate that it may be linked to the Old English and Scandinavian words “mare” and “wood,” meaning “a path through the woods.” This is a possible reference to the Markwood family’s last place of residence prior to immigration to the U.S.

The last name Markwood is found predominantly in the Northeast region of the United States, which is consistent with the historical records of families from this surname entering the country through New York and New Jersey points of entry. Because it is an uncommon last name, it is not unexpected to find that it is most regularly seen in small, rural towns, where the Markwoods have settled and prospered over the generations. Overall, the Markwood family is an important part of the United States’ melting pot of cultures.

Variations of the surname Markwood

Markwood is an English surname with multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The original version of the surname, Markwood, derives from the Old English term "mercewudu" which translates to "boundary wood". As a result, many of the variants and spellings of the surname refer to some form of wooded area or boundary marker.

Variations of Markwood include Markwode, Markwold, Markwoode, Merswood, Merwood, and Merswode. There are also other surnames that are derived from the same root, such as Mercewood, Merchantwood, Marseywold, Marchwood, and Marshwood.

In addition to the obvious spellings that include the letter "W," Markwood can also be found spelled with a "V" instead, such as Markevold, Markeveld, Markevode, Merceveld, Merchantveld, Marseyveld, Marshveld, and others.

The various spellings and variants of the surname Markwood are scattered throughout England, but larger concentrations can be found in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire.

It is also possible that there are surnames that have been adopted from a different language but carry the same meaning or have a similar origin to Markwood. Examples of surnames with the same origin and meaning include Markewart (German) and Markewerk (Dutch).

No matter what spelling or variation is used, the name Markwood is usually associated with boundary woodlands, forests, and markers set along property lines.

Famous people with the name Markwood

• Mandy Markwood, American actress
• Eliot Markwood, English cricketer
• Paddie Markwood, Australian professional surfer
• Stan Markwood, American jazz musician
• Brett Markwood, American pole-vaulter
• Jon Markwood, Irish footballer
• Sam Markwood, American economist
• Abigail Markwood, Australian children's author
• Michael Markwood, Canadian soccer player
• Jennifer Markwood, British novelist
• Rachel Markwood, Scottish singer-songwriter
• Beatrice Markwood, Canadian philanthropist
• Keshav Markwood, Indian actor
• Gary Markwood, American basketball coach
• Alan Markwood, American politician
• Nirmala Markwood, Indian chess player
• David Markwood, English historian
• Lily Markwood, Australian singer
• Gregory Markwood, French painter
• Chris Markwood, American software engineer

Other surnames

MarkwortMarkworth