Surname Woddy - Meaning and Origin
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Woddy: What does the surname Woddy mean?
The last name Woddy is of English origin, with records of the name dating back to the 1600s.
The name Woddy could be derived from either the Old English word wode, meaning "wood" or the Old English personal name Wooda, which was composed of the elements wudu, meaning "wood", and hea, meaning "high".
Some researchers believe that the name Woddy is also derived from a place name, derived from the Old English elements wudu, meaning "wood", and leah, meaning "woodland or clearing". There are numerous places in England with the name Woddy, such as Corley Woddy in Worcestershire, Wodylegh in Surrey, and Wodywell in Hampshire.
People with the last name Woddy have had a history of settling in counties spanning the UK, from East Anglia to to Central England, although they are more concentrated in the Midlands region.
The name Woddy carries a strong geographical and traditional distinction. Those with the name can take pride in being part of a longstanding English family, whose presence has been recorded since the early 1600s.
Order DNA origin analysisWoddy: Where does the name Woddy come from?
The last name Woddy is most commonly found in the United States, where it ranks as the 36,309th most common surname used today. Many individuals with this surname can trace their roots back to South Carolina, where the earliest documented instance of the name lies. Throughout history, this last name has held various spellings including Waddie, Waddy, Wodie, Woddy, and Wodey.
The surname can be traced to Thomas Woadie in 1686, who was born in what was once known as the Province of South Carolina. Many researchers believe the original family name with this spelling was Woadie, and by the 1700s, the variants began to appear.
Outside of the United States, the last name Woddy is still found in some countries with relatively smaller populations of people with the name. It is seen in countries like Jamaica, Barbados, and the United Kingdom. While the spelling may vary from country to country, the meaning as a whole remains.
The last name Woddy is a testament to the diverse lineages found among the people of the United States and beyond. It even stands as a reminder of how the spelling of various last names have changed and evolved over the years. One thing is for certain - the legacy of the Woddy name lives on.
Variations of the surname Woddy
The surname Woddy has many variants and spellings, all of which are derived from an English origin. Variations of the surname include Waudy, Woady, Woddy, Wauddy, Woudy, Woudie, Woudey, Wooddy, Woodie, and Waldy.
The most commonly found spelling is Woddy, which is derived from the Old English given name ‘Wudu’ meaning 'wood'. This indicates that the original bearer of the name may have been a woodsman or dweller in a wood.
Most variants of the surname are derived from a geographical area. For instance, those with the surname Waudy are thought to have been from Wiltshire, England while the Woudy surname is thought to have been a Scottish surname. Additionally, variants such as Wooden, Woodlin, and Woodmann are thought to have been an Americanized version of the surname created when immigrants from the UK settled in the United States.
Variants of Woddy are also found in other countries such as Ireland. Those with the Wauddy spelling may have originated in County Donegal, Ireland and the surname Woady is thought to have been an Irish variant derived from the Irish phrase 'Ua Dubhthaigh' which means 'descendant of Dubhthach'.
Overall, the surname Woddy is a versatile surname with many spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. With hundreds of variations, some having geographical links and some even with Irish and American origin, the evolution of the surname Woddy is wide and varied.
Famous people with the name Woddy
- Tim Allen: Born Timothy Allen Dick in 1953, this comedian, actor, and author is most famous for his role as Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor on the '90s sitcom Home Improvement and for voicing Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story.
- Robert Brignull: Robert Brignull is an English actor, director, and producer. He is best known for his supporting roles in action movies such as The Fast and the Furious and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
- Maureen O'Hara: Maureen O'Hara was an Irish-American actress, widely known for her roles in such films as How Green Was My Valley, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Miracle on 34th Street, and The Quiet Man.
- Jonathan Woodward: Jonathan Woodward is an American actor best known for his roles on shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and Angel.
- Johnny Woodard: Johnny Woodard is a record producer and engineer, known for works with such artists as The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, and Paul McCartney.
- Robert Woodard II: Robert Woodard II is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
- Melinda Woodford: Melinda Woodford is a Canadian actress, best known for her performances in the films The Straight Story and The Last Supper.
- Bobbi Woodbury: Bobbi Woodbury is an American actress who has had roles in various television productions such as The Pretender, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., and Charmed.