Surname Millwood - Meaning and Origin
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Millwood: What does the surname Millwood mean?
The surname Millwood is of Old English origin and it is a topographic name for someone who lived near a mill in the woods. It is derived from the Middle English words "mille" meaning ‘mill’ and "wode" meaning ‘wood’. So the literal meaning is "mill in the wood". A mill in this context refers to a building or structure where grain is processed into flour, typically by grinding between large stones or by modern mechanical methods. The surname Millwood can therefore denote a geographical location and also point to the occupational activity of the person's ancestors. This surname has several variations including Millward and Milward.
Order DNA origin analysisMillwood: Where does the name Millwood come from?
The surname Millwood is of English origin and is considered a locational surname. It stems from two old English words - "mylen" which means a mill, and "wudu" which means a wood. The full meaning of Millwood is considered to be "a mill in a wood" or "a mill by a wood.” This suggests that the ancestors of the Millwood family might have lived or worked near a mill in or by a wood.
Over time, the Millwood family spread across various parts of England. Today, however, members of the Millwood family can be found worldwide, due to historical emigration patterns, especially to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, concentrations of people with the Millwood surname can still be found in England, predominantly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the Midlands.
Variations of the surname Millwood
The surname Millwood is believed to be of English origin, coming from a geographic location, specifically a mill in a wooded area. Variants of the surname could include Milwood, Millwould, Millewood, and Milwould. Spelling changes and variations often occurred due to an absence of spelling rules in the English language during the time when most of surnames were formed, and due to the translation from other languages into English.
The surname may also have been spelled differently in different regions or by different segments of the family. For example, the name could be recorded as Milward in some locations, combining "mill" and "ward" (protector), instead of "wood".
Sometimes, prefixes or suffixes could have been added to the original surname, possibly relating to a person's occupation, location, father's name, or other individual traits. Therefore, names like Millwoodson, Millwoodstone, or Millwoodman might exist.
Keep in mind that the exact variations and spellings of the surname Millwood could be numerous and some might not be documented or commonly recognized.
Famous people with the name Millwood
- Jonny Millwood, British television personality and entertainer.
- Toby Millwood, British actor.
- Robert Millwood, English cricketer.
- Addison Millwood, English rugby union player.
- Frederick Millwood, British diplomat and co-founder of the League of Nations.
- Harry Millwood, British Olympic athlete.
- Stephen Millwood, British composer.
- Michael Millwood, British actor.
- John Millwood, English solo organist.
- Shirley Millwood, British actress.
- Tom Millwood, American actor.
- Kirsty Millwood, British former professional footballer.
- Marcia Millwood, British Artist.
- Jen Millwood, British singer and songwriter.
- Sarah Millwood, American author, speaker and motivational coach.
- Rob Millwood, a British Actor.
- Laura Millwood, British journalist and broadcaster.
- Warren Millwood, English former professional footballer.
- David Millwood, British historian and author.
- Jesse Millwood, British stage, film and television actor.