Surname Woodrow - Meaning and Origin

Woodrow: What does the surname Woodrow mean?

The last name Woodrow is a patronymic surname, which means it is derived from the personal name of the father. The root of the name is the Middle English personal name Wodard, which is thought to be derived from the Old English word wudu, meaning “wood." Combining Old English and Middle English, the name can be translated to mean “one who rules in the wood.”

Woodrow can be found in English, Scottish, and Irish records, and is common in many different countries. In England, the Woodrow family spread rapidly to Wiltshire and Aberdeenshire and was later found in Ireland. In Scotland, the surname was common in East and West Lothian and in Lanarkshire, as well as Lancashire in England and across Scotland and Ireland in general.

There have been many notable people with the surname Woodrow, including Thomas Woodrow Wilson who is the only President of the United States to have the surname McWoodrow. Another famous figure is American author and professor, Dean Woodrow, who wrote many books and plays in the early 20th century.

The Woodrow surname has a long and interesting history, with many notables connected to it. Its meaning has always held an unmistakable connotation, relating to a power in the forest and a ruler. Today the name remains popular both in England and beyond as its rich history speaks to those who bear it.

Woodrow: Where does the name Woodrow come from?

The last name Woodrow is most common in the United States, particularly in the South and the Midwest. It began as an English name and is derived from a place-name, as 'wood' was added to 'row' as an indicator of a hedgerow. In the 19th century, the name made its way to the United States as more people from England immigrated.

In the US, the last name Woodrow is most common in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. It is the upper 1,000th most common last name, and is most common in the city of Meridian, Mississippi.

There are also quite a few individuals with the last name Woodrow living in Canada, as quite a few English immigrants settled in the province of Nova Scotia. The last name is less common in Canada, but a handful of families with the name still live there.

In other English-speaking countries such as UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, the last name Woodrow is scarce. There are only a few families with the last name in these countries, and if so, they are likely descendants of immigrants from the United States. Woodrow is also rare in continental Europe, indicating that those with the name are most likely descendants of American immigrants.

Variations of the surname Woodrow

The surname Woodrow is of English and Scottish origin. It is usually spelled either Woodrow or Woodrowe. Other variants of this surname include Woodrou, Woodrood, Wooodrow, Woodward, Woodriff, Woody, Wudru, and Wudrue.

Woodrow can also be spelled as Woodruff, Woodrough, Woodrowgh, and Woodrome. Sometimes, Woodrow is spelled as Woodrew, Woodroe, or Woodroue. It can also be spelled as Woodrogh, Woodro, Woolrow, and Woolrowe.

In Scotland, variants of this surname include Woodruffe, Woodriffe, and Woodroffe.

Woodrow is a patronymic surname in the English-speaking world. Patronymic surnames are created from the father’s given name, thus individuals with the surname Woodrow are related to one another through their father, or ancestor with the name Woodrow.

It is also an occupational surname, which was given to someone who works in a wood or rowed in a boat.

Woodrow is far less common than its variants. Many variants of Woodrow, like Woodward and Woodruff have become more popular than the original surname. Other variants like Woodrowe, Woodsroe, Woodroe and Woodriff have become less common over time.

Famous people with the name Woodrow

• Edna St. Vincent Millay: American poet and playwright
• Wilson Woodrow: 28th president of the United States
• Barbara Woodrow: American actress
• John Woodrow: British actor
• Jarvis Woodrow: jazz pianist
• Jourdan Woodrow: American professional basketball player
• Jock Woodrow: British Olympic rower
• Ruth Woodrow: Canadian musician
• Sybil Woodrow: British sculptor
• Terence Woodrow: British ecology professor
• Thom Woodrow: American film director
• Wendy Woodrow: American actress
• Vivian Woodrow: Canadian author
• Alice Woodrow: Australian performing artist
• Emmeline Woodrow: British social reformer
• Henry Woodrow: English porcelain designer
• John Woodrow: English stained-glass window painter
• Mary Woodrow: Canadian poet
• William Woodrow: British painter
• Woody Woodrow: American country music singer-songwriter

Other surnames

WoodrichWoodridgeWoodriffWoodringWoodroffeWoodromeWoodroofWoodroughWoodroveWoodruffWoodruffeWoodrum