Surname Ellwood - Meaning and Origin
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Ellwood: What does the surname Ellwood mean?
The last name Ellwood is of English origin and has a variety of possible derivations. Its possible meanings include from the elm wood, old forest and old English, as well as various other variants. It could also come from different places names in England, such as Ellwood Common and Ellwood Brook.
The surname Ellwood is generally found in the Yorkshire area of England, with its population spread across the country. It is most frequent in the Midlands, especially Birmingham and Yorkshire.
The most common variants of the name are Elwood, Ellard, Ellwode, Elwod and Elwode. Most people with the Ellwood name today are believed to be descended from someone living in the Ellwood Common area in the 11th century. While the name is found in various parts of the world, England remains the main source.
One famous person with the Ellwood name is British actor Eric Ellwood, best known for his roles in 'The Three Musketeers' and 'The Dam Busters'. He was born in London in 1924. Another with the name is Australian singer and guitarist Duncan Ellwood, who achieved success in the 1980s with his band Custard.
The Ellwood surname is an interesting one with a variety of possible meanings and sources. With its current geographical spread, it is likely to be represented in many parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisEllwood: Where does the name Ellwood come from?
Today, the last name Ellwood is most common in the United Kingdom. In fact, according to surname distribution records from the 2001 UK census, the last name Ellwood is the 2,857th most common name in England and Wales. It is more common, however, in some parts of Scotland, ranking as the 909th most common surname.
The frequency of the surname Ellwood outside of the UK is much lower. In the United States, according to the 2019 US census, it ranks as the 30,047th most used surname. In Germany, it ranks as the 19,945th most popular name and in Sweden it is only the 36,563th most common surname.
The Ellwood surname has its origins in England, and many people with the surname are still found in the same counties that they originated from hundreds of years ago. These include counties in central and northern England such as Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham and even Shropshire.
The Ellwood surname is a combination of two Anglo-Saxon words, 'elf' and 'wood.' It likely referred to someone who lived near the woods inhabited by elves. Today, the surname is still most associated with England and within UK, Ellwood is most common in the northern counties it originated from.
Variations of the surname Ellwood
The surname Ellwood has a wide range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Ellard, Elward, Elwood, Ellwode, Ellot, Elwode, Ellwold, Ellolt, Elot, Ellardt, Elwold, Ellwott, and Ellott.
The origin of the surname Ellwood is found to be Anglo-Saxon. It is suggested that the name Ellwood was derived from a location near which an early family had lived. This could have been based on a non-mystical name derived from a family near Ellwood, Derbyshire in England. Other sources suggest that the family took their name from a place called Ellwood, in Shropshire.
Evidence of the surname Ellwood dates back to the 1200's, when Robert de Ellwode was recorded in the Close Rolls of Norfolk in 1274. Further records of the Ellwood family can be found in records of birth and marriage. Most of these records were documented in London between the 14th and 19th centuries.
More recently, in the mid 1800s, the name Ellwood emigrated from the UK to the United States, most notably to states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Iowa. In the United States, the variant Ellot/Ellott is most commonly used.
Overall, the surname Ellwood has a long history that can be traced back to antiquity. With all its variants and spellings, the name Ellwood is often associated with the Anglo-Saxon culture and has become a popular surname with a wide range of spellings and origins.
Famous people with the name Ellwood
- Amber Ellwood: Australian singer, musician, and songwriter.
- Chloe Ellwood: British actress.
- Denise Ellwood: British actress.
- Harvey Ellwood: English cricketer.
- Joanne Ellwood: Australian actress.
- Josephine Ellwood: American film producer.
- Katherine Ellwood: American author.
- Malcolm Ellwood: American politician.
- Melanie Ellwood: British musician.
- Matthew Ellwood: English footballer.
- Monty Ellwood: British racecar driver.
- Rebecca Ellwood: British journalist and author.
- Robert Ellwood: American spiritual researcher and teacher.
- Rebecca Ellwood: British singer and songwriter.
- Russell Ellwood: American Olympic swimmer.
- Samuel Ellwood: Hawaiian missionary and educator.
- Sarah Ellwood: Australian artist.
- Tom Ellwood: British rower.
- William Ellwood: British actor and director.