Surname Hagwood - Meaning and Origin
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Hagwood: What does the surname Hagwood mean?
The last name Hagwood is thought to be a toponymic surname, which means it is derived from a geographical location. The origin of the name is unclear, although some historians have suggested it may derive from a place located in Britain during the Middle Ages. The name may have been derived from either of two areas, Hagwood, a forest near Bristol or Hawghwood in Essex.
The name is linked to a family in the 13th century, when Walter de Hagwood was recorded in the Vaux, barton of Reynes in Normandy, confirming that the family were originally Norman. Their Norman origins make it likely that the family were successful landowners, probably in relation to the management of rural land or estates and agricultural land.
In the 16th century, Hagwoods began to migrate to other parts of the British Isles. In England, they were recorded in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Devon, Warwickshire, and Shropshire. They also spread to Ireland and Scotland, where the name can be found in Ulster and Glasgow.
The name Hagwood, which is associated with those who came from the region near Bristol, and may have meant "wood hare" or "wood hawk", is a reminder of where the family comes from. These days, many family members around the world are proud of their Norman origins and may choose to use the name as both a surname to represent their family's history and as a reminder of their past.
Order DNA origin analysisHagwood: Where does the name Hagwood come from?
The last name Hagwood is not common today. It is a relatively rare name, and is most prevalently associated with England and its former colonies. The surname is believed to have originated in the north of England, possibly originating in Yorkshire or Lancashire. The earliest record of the name is from 1204, when it appears in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, and since then the name has been found primarily in England and the former British colonies.
The name is most commonly found in the United States, Australia, and Canada. The largest concentration of people with the last name Hagwood is believed to be in the Southern United States, especially North Carolina. The name is also found in some parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands, where it appears to have been taken by British immigrants.
Despite its prevalence in the United States, Hagwood is still a relatively rare name. It appears on less than 1% of all United States Census records, and it isn’t found in any of the top 100 surnames, indicating that it is still fairly uncommon.
Variations of the surname Hagwood
Hagwood is an uncommon English surname, thought to have originated in the West Midlands area of England. It is one of the very few surnames in English with two distinct variant spellings: Hagwood and Hagewood.
The variant spellings of Hagwood may be derived from other surnames, such as Hawkingwood (Old English hawking wood, meaning a wood where hawking, or hunting, commonly took place), Hedgewood (from Old English haga wudu, meaning a hedged wood or enclosure) and Haggettwood (possibly derived from the Old English haeged, meaning a hedge).
Alternative surnames that have the same origin as Hagwood include Hagewood, Hawkingwood, Hedgewood, Haggettwood, Haggetwood, Hagget, Hagit and Hagfit. These surnames may have been used interchangeably in some cases, particularly those within families who shared the same surname.
In some cases, it is possible that a Hagwood or Hagewood family would have adopted a related surname to distinguish themselves from other related families with the same surname. For example, some Hagwood families may have adopted the distinct Hawkingwood or Haggettwood surnames.
The Hagwood surname is not particularly common, and can be found mainly in the English West Midlands area, where it is thought to have originated.
Famous people with the name Hagwood
- John Hagwood: American gospel singer, songwriter, and musician
- Frank Hagwood Jr.: historical American football coach
- Linda Hagwood Roberts: former American State Senator
- Paul Hagwood: British film director, producer, and screenwriter
- Ed Hagwood: early 20th Century American football player
- Rosie Hagwood: contemporary British fashion model
- Titus Hagwood: British contemporary artist
- Rhys Hagwood: English contemporary actor and singer
- Tony “T-Bone” Hagwood: American blues guitarist and singer
- Sophia Hagwood: British post-contemporary artist, fashion designer, and fine artist