Surname Woord - Meaning and Origin
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Woord: What does the surname Woord mean?
The surname Woord is of English origin. It is a derivation of the Old English term 'wudu', which means 'wood' or 'forest'. This term was most commonly applied to people who lived and/or worked near a wood or forest, such as forest keepers, lumberjacks, or woodcarvers. It could also have been used as a totem name for a family or clan, who identified with a particular tree or type of tree. In some cases, the surname might also have denoted someone who hailed from a place with a significant amount of woodland.
The surname Woord is not particularly common in England. It is, however, well-represented in Dutch countries, particularly the Netherlands, Flanders (Belgium), and zeelandic Flanders (Netherlands). It is thought that the surname could have been introduced to this region by English immigrants.
Many variations of the spelling of the surname Woord exist. Examples of these are Vanderwoode, Woode, de Wode, Woo, Wooldynski and Woltz.
In addition to being a surname, the word 'wode' is a Middle English term meaning 'insane'. It is possible that in some cases, the surname Woord could have been given to someone who was considered to be eccentric or unstable.
The surname Woord is fairly rare, but it is still found in various countries today. As such, it still remains in use by many families and can be a source of pride and identity.
Order DNA origin analysisWoord: Where does the name Woord come from?
The last name Woord is most commonly found in the Netherlands, particularly around the northern region of Groningen, as well as some parts of Germany, Denmark, and the UK. Within the Netherlands, Woord is a relatively common family name with origins in the Frisian language, which is referred to as West-Vlaams in Dutch.
The Woord family name is especially popular in the provinces of Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe, where it is ranked among the top twenty most common surnames. The name is sometimes spelled as Wood, Waard, Waered, Word, Worde, Waart, and Waardt, depending on the region.
In German-speaking countries, Woord is a common variant of the name Wortmann, while in other parts of Northern Europe, the spelling is more often Wort. It is seen as a habitational name from any of various places named Wort or Woord, such as "Woord in Groningen province", which was mentioned in 1211 as a tithe in the East Friesland area.
The Woord name is also found in the United Kingdom, where it is more common in northern parts of England. The Woord family there can be traced back to the 1600s when the name was brought over by Dutch settlers.
Overall, Woord is a relatively common last name that can be found in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, with most of its sightings being concentrated in Northern Europe.
Variations of the surname Woord
Woord is a Dutch surname, derived from the name of the village ‘Woerd’ in the province of North-Holland. It is an ancient name first appearing in 1250 AD. Variants of the name are Woert, Woort, Woerdt, Woerde, and Woerdte. These versions are spelled phonetically.
The most common surnames of similar origin are Voor/Voort, De Woerd, Woorden, Woorders, Woortman, Woertman, and Woortmans. These variants are also phonetically related. Variations in spelling such as Ukwort, Ukword, Vworter, and Worder are often found due to census-takers misunderstanding the pronunciation of names.
Although the name has been associated with prominent Dutch people, some of its variants have spread across Europe. For example, in Scotland there is a variant of Woord called Word which is derived from ‘woorden’ meaning ‘words’. This variant was likely brought over by Dutch settlers. In Italy, variations of the surname such as ‘Woerdt’, ‘Woerdti’, and ‘Woordet’ are commonly found.
In the United States spelling of phonetically similar surnames such as Ward, Word, and Wart can be found as descendants of immigrants with the Woord surname. Some descendants may have Anglicized their surnames or adopted an Americanized version with spellings such as Worid and Worod.
The Woord surname is rare but it has a long and rich history. Given the variety of variants, spellings, and forms, it can be challenging to trace ancestral roots accurately. However, delving deeper into the history of the Woord surname can yield insights into the diverse ancestries of its bearers.
Famous people with the name Woord
- Anthony Wood: Entrepreneur, inventor and philanthropist
- David Wood: Zoologist, conservationist and BBC wildlife presenter
- J.R.R Tolkien: English writer and poet, best known as the author of The Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Kathy Wood: American Olympic swimmer
- Kenneth Wood: British businessman, founder of the eponymous kitchenware company
- Patrick Wood: Canadian ice hockey player
- Robert Wood: American figurative painter, famous for his Automat and Cabaret series
- Ruth Wood: Baroness of Marston, wife of Conservative MP Maurice Macmillan
- Stephen Wood: English composer and conductor
- Thomas Wood: British politician and Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde