Surname Netherwood - Meaning and Origin
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Netherwood: What does the surname Netherwood mean?
Netherwood is an English surname that was first used in ancient Anglo-Saxon times. It is a locational name that originated from an area known as the "Netherwood" in Herefordshire, England. The term "Netherwood" can be broken down into two parts: "nether," an Old English term meaning lower, beneath, or under; and "wood," signifying forest or wooded area. Therefore, Netherwood could mean 'the lower part of the woods' or 'forest beneath'. It is likely that the person initially bearing this name lived or operated in such a part of the woods. In the Middle Ages, surnames often reflected one's occupation, locale, or important personal characteristics, making each surname a unique identifier in a world without fixed addresses or formal identification documents. Hence, the name Netherwood would have denoted individuals who reside in or near a low lying wooded area. As such, the surname is essentially topographical in nature.
Order DNA origin analysisNetherwood: Where does the name Netherwood come from?
The last name Netherwood is mainly found in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the UK, the surname is most commonly found in North Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Oxfordshire, though it can be found scattered throughout England. In the US, the last name is most common in New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, though a handful of families have settled in other states.
One of the earliest historical records of Netherwood dates back to the 16th century in Lancashire, England, where records indicate a particular family had inherited a parcel of land from a Mr. Netherwood. The family eventually sold off the land as well as the surname, and immigrants from England brought the last name to the US.
Few records survive that help historians trace the etymology of the Netherwood surname, though it is believed to be derived from a place name in Surrey, England. The name likely originates from the Old English terms “nether”, meaning “lower”, and “wudu”, meaning “wood”, or low-lying woodlands.
Today, the last name Netherwood is still carried by several families throughout the UK and the US. While it may not be as popular as some other last names, it is still an important part of English and American ancestry.
Variations of the surname Netherwood
Netherwood is an English surname believed to have originated in the North West of England. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Netherwoode, Nethwood, Netherwoode, Netherwode, Netherwoode, Netherwude, Netherwoade and Netherwude.
Netherwoode is the most common variant of the Netherwood surname and is believed to have its roots in the town of Netherwood in Cumbria. This variant is found all over the British Isles, but especially in the North West of England.
Nethwood may also be a variant of Netherwood and is believed to have originated in Lancashire, specifically in the smalltown of Nethwood. This variant of Netherwood is less common and tends to only be found in the North West of England.
Netherwoode is another variant of the Netherwood name and is thought to have been derived from a location of the same name in Yorkshire. This variant is also more commonly found in the North West of England.
Netherwode is found in a number of locations around England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire. This variant of Netherwood is considerably rarer, and mostly found in the North West of England.
Netherwoode and Netherwude are also variants of the Netherwood surname. They are thought to have their roots in Cumberland and Lancashire respectively. The two variants are largely found in the North West of England, but can also be found in other parts of Britain.
Netherwoade, Nethwood and Netherwude are all unlikely variants of Netherwood, but could still be possible. These would all be much rarer than the other variants, and most likely they are derived from smaller villages or hamlets. It is possible that they are also found in the North West of England.
Famous people with the name Netherwood
- Jordan Netherwood: actor and singer who was a contestant on the NBC reality show The Voice and has appeared in films like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and She's Out of My League.
- Alfred Netherwood: a British cleric and academic who was Chaplain to Queen Victoria and played a key role in the establishment of St. John's College in Cambridge.
- Jacob Netherwood: an English horticulturalist and superintendent of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew from 1845 to 1867, specialising in ferns and algae.
- William Netherwood: a Scottish scientist and explorer who explored and documented various parts of the Arctic during the 19th century.
- Andrew Netherwood: an actor of stage and screen, and an accomplished director, he has appeared in numerous plays on Broadway and in the West End, as well as television shows such as Law & Order.
- Robert Netherwood: a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the St. Louis Browns in the mid-1930s.
- Andrew Netherwood: an author, director and playwright who wrote the plays Fury and Caller and is known for his work on Arthur Miller dramatizations such as All My Sons and Death of a Salesman.
- Charles Netherwood: an English politician who served in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1880, and who wrote extensively on agricultural reform and education policy.
- Damian Netherwood: a Canadian record producer, musician, and songwriter who has worked with artists like Janelle Monáe and Robert Glasper, as well as co-writing the chart-topping singles "Fetish" and "Dancing on My Own".
- Maxwell Netherwood: a renowned British architect working in the Arts and Crafts Movement who designed numerous municipal buildings, churches, and private residences during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.