Surname Wooten - Meaning and Origin
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Recent venture into the world of genetic exploration via the iGENEA DNA test proved to be a riveting journey that unearthed unique information about the history of the surname, Wooten, and led to new connections across the globe.
H. Wooten
read moreWooten: What does the surname Wooten mean?
The surname Wooten is derived from a common medieval first name, "Walt" or "Wald," which was especially popular in the British Isles. These names derive from the Old High German elements waldan (to rule, to wield) and waltan (forest, hill), and would have been typically given to somebody who had mastery over the land they occupied or managed.
The earliest recorded use of this first name is from England circa 1086, in the Domesday Book, when it was given to Waluatione, derived from "wald" and "tion (town)". It was also used as a surname as early as the 11th and 12th centuries, first appearing as "Waltone,” derived from the Old French word "walo," meaning “rule.
As the name spread, it began to appear in different forms, including Wottun, Wotun, Wooten, and Wooton. Specific variants of this surname appeared among the settlers of North America during 17th-century colonial times—particularly in the British colonies of New England.
Today, Wooten is considered a fairly common surname throughout the United States and other Anglo-Saxon-influenced countries. It can be found in many communities and locations around the world and is associated with a long and fascinating history. The name has long been a reminder for those who carry it of the pervasiveness and diversity of connections that one can find across the world.
Order DNA origin analysisWooten: Where does the name Wooten come from?
Today, the last name Wooten is most commonly found in the United States. In the 2020 U.S. Census, the last name Wooten ranked 4,660th out of 88,799 total surnames. It is most popular in the southern states, in particular Mississippi, Georgia, Texas, and Florida.
The surname Wooten has its origins in the early days of America where many of the original immigrants bore the name. It is attributed to the English roots of the family, having arrived in the 1600s. Since then, the surname has spread across the US, though it is still most commonly found in the south and southeast.
Ancestry records report that the name is derived from the Old English word "woten" meaning to watch or oversee. Some records suggest that the name is also related to the Old Norse word "votn" meaning stronghold. A central tenant of the family's history is service, which could be connected to the watch or oversight associated with the surname, perhaps as a kind of guardian.
The Wooten surname continues to be a proud family tradition, popular among the many generations of descendants in the US cocent today.
Variations of the surname Wooten
The surname Wooten is an English and Scottish name that dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "wudu" meaning "wooden". Variants of the surname include Wootton, Wooton, Woottin, Wootin, Wouting, Utten and Uttin.
The spelling of the surname has been known to vary from one region to another. In some cases, it has also been spelled as Wooten, Wotton, Wootton, Wouthan and Utton. This is due to the fact that during medieval times English was still very much a spoken language, rather than a written language. As a result, people would pronounce words differently, leading to different spellings of the same word.
In Scotland, variants of the surname have been found in records dating back to the 13th century. Spellings of the name have also been found as Wutton, Wutten, Wouton and Woustan.
The southern region of England has also been known to have its own spelling of the surname. It has been found as Wootan, Wooten and Wooton. From the 14th century onward, there has been a noticeable increase in the usage of the surname in southern England.
The surname has spread to other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. In some cases, the spelling of the name has adapted to those countries. Examples of this include Wootan, Wooten, Wooton and Wootin.
Overall, the surname Wooten has numerous variations in spelling and can be found in different countries throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Wooten
- Victor Wooten- a five-time Grammy Award-winning bassist, composer, record producer and author best known as a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning jazz fusion band Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
- Roy Wooten- the youngest of five brothers, all virtuosic performers and creators of music, Roy is a two-time Dove Award-nominated recording artist, composer, producer and performer best known as "Future Man," the percussionist of the Flecktones.
- Joseph Wooten- Victor, Roy and Joseph's brother who is a member of the soulful family of seven brothers, all gifted musicians. He is the founder of the Anderson Wooten Project, which he performs with his brother Roy.
- Regi Wooten- a renowned bassist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer with releases featuring some of the most renowned musicians in the world, including Al Jarreau, Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour and others.
- Roy "Futureman" Wooten- the youngest and most celebrated of the five Wooten brothers, Roy is a two-time Dove Award-nominated recording artist, composer, producer, and performer best known as "Future Man," the percussionist of the Flecktones.
- Edgar Wooten- a member of the celebrated Wooten Brothers family of musical virtuosos, Edgar has shared the stage with some of the greatest names in jazz, including George Benson, Pat Metheny, and George Duke.
- JD Wooten- an award-winning jazz trumpeter and educator, JD is a two-time Grammy Award-winning producer, touring musician and author, best known for his work with The Wooten Brothers Band and Hip Pocket Records.
- Jazz educator and mentor Lizzie Wooten- the Director of Jazz Studies at George Mason University, who has written commissioned works and performed with the likes of Clark Terry, Maria Schneider, Phil Woods, and has held residencies at universities across the country.
- Marlon Wooten- an accomplished saxophonist, songwriter, and arranger who has toured with the likes of Lionel Richie and Joe Sample and written arrangements for The Doobie Brothers, Queen Latifah, and Patti LaBelle.