Surname Underwood - Meaning and Origin

Exploring Ancestral Roots with iGENEA DNA Test: An Insightful Journey for the Underwood Surname

I underwent a comprehensive DNA test by iGENEA, which provided an in-depth analysis of my roots and shed light on the history behind the surname Underwood. It utilized a simple cheek-swab for DNA sampling and used a detailed approach for analysis, involving autosomal DNA, Y-DNA, and mtDNA.

M. Underwood

Underwood: What does the surname Underwood mean?

Underwood is an Anglo-Saxon surname with Old English origins. The term "Underwood" typically refers to a smaller, secondary growth of trees and shrubs beneath the main canopy in a wood or a forest — essentially, the "undergrowth" or "underwood". It derives from two Old English words, "under" and "wudu", meaning "wood". Therefore, the name was probably originally given to a person who lived near or worked in the underwood of a forest, or a location containing dense undergrowth.

This surname was first recorded in the late 12th century and variations of the spelling can include Underwood, Underwald, Indervolden, and others. One of the earliest recordings include Ralph de Underwude in the Assize Court Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1219. The name spread across England and later was carried to other countries, such as Scotland and the United States, by settlers and immigrants.

In summary, the surname Underwood typically refers to someone who lived near or worked in the undergrowth of a forest—a secondary woodland beneath the main canopy.

Underwood: Where does the name Underwood come from?

The last name Underwood is a very popular name throughout the world. It is particularly common in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the United States, the last name Underwood is the 222nd most common name. It is most common in the South and particularly in the state of Mississippi. According to the 2010 US census, there were some 29,000 Underwood households in the United States. Utah is the state with the highest population of Underwoods.

In the United Kingdom, the last name Underwood is the 265th most popular last name. It is most common in London and other southern areas of England.

Australia is the country with the highest population of Underwoods outside of the United States. The last name is the 321st most common name in Australia.

In Canada, the last name Underwood is the 809th most popular last name. It is most common in the province of Ontario.

Underwood is a relatively common name throughout the English speaking world. It is particularly popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

Variations of the surname Underwood

The surname Underwood is of English origin. It is derived from the pre-10th century Olde English words "under" and "wode", and was likely given to those whose primary occupation was forestry. Other variants of the surname Underwood are Underwoode, Undrewood, Underwode, and Udenwoord.

Many surnames that have similar spellings have the same origin. These include Underwod, Underwoot, Undrewood, & Undrewitte. The Welsh version of Underwood is Udenwode. Other surnames of the same stock in Germany and Holland are Unterwald, Unterwoud, and Unterwarp. In France, dye Undervod.

In England, there are variants such as Underwoode, Udenwode, & Vandrwood. In Scotland, the names Anderson, Drummond, Findlay, Geddes, Goodfellow, Irvine, Reid, Taylor, and Wardrop were all derived from the same Underwood stock.

In America, the spelling of the name tends to be Underwood, with some families using two ts in the spelling. There are several variations that have been found including Underwoode, Underwod, Underwoord, Undrerwood, and et cetera.

In Australia and New Zealand, several variations have been found, including Underwoode, Udenwood, Udenwodd, Udenwoorde, Undrewode, and Vanderwood. The spelling of the name can also be slightly variant of Underwood, such as Underwooder, Underwoode, and Underwooda.

In the Netherlands, however, the surname is Underwoud. German variations include Unterwald and Unterwoud.

In summary, the surname Underwood has many variants and spellings, including Underwoode, Udenwode, Vandrwood, Underwod, Underwoord, Undrerwood, Underwooder, Underwoode, Underwooda, Underwoud, Unterwald, Unterwoud, and Dye Undervod. It is derived from the pre-10th century Olde English words "under" and "wode" and is also similar to Anderson, Drummond, Findlay, Geddes, Goodfellow, Irvine, Reid, Taylor, and Wardrop in England, as well as in America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Famous people with the name Underwood

• Carrie Underwood, country singer and songwriter
• Ashley Underwood, former volleyball player and current physical therapist
• Mary Walker Underwood, American folk artist
• Craig Underwood, English songwriter, producer and keyboard player
• Frank Underwood, fictional character from the Netflix series House of Cards
• Ray Underwood, American jazz saxophonist
• John Underwood, former English footballer
• Jonathan Underwood, American actor
• Daren Underwood, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Cliff Underwood, mountaineer and Himalayan guide

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