Surname Woodey - Meaning and Origin
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Woodey: What does the surname Woodey mean?
The last name Woodey is an English patronymic surname, derived from a medieval given name. This surname is found primarily in Southwestern England, in the counties of Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset, and Devon. It is thought to be derived from a diminutive form of the Old English personal name Wudga, which means "woody" or "forest-dweller".
The Woodey surname has undergone many variations in spelling over the centuries, including Wuddey, Wooding, Woodey, Wooddy, and Woodage. These variants can be traced back to Middle English documents dating to the 13th and 14th centuries. The Woodey Mill in Dorset was once owned by one family of the same surname, indicating their presence in the area for centuries.
The Woodey surname can often be found in records of medieval guilds, indicating that many of the holders of this name were involved in the craft or trade business. In the 16th and 17th centuries, some members of the Woodey family moved to London, where their surname was often anglicized to Wooding or Wooding.
The Woodey surname today is found in parts of England, Australia, Canada, and the United States. In the United States, the largest concentration of families with the Woodey name is in the state of Utah. Families bearing the Woodey name are thought to have bravely pursued a better life following one of the several immigration waves during the 19th and early 20th centuries to the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisWoodey: Where does the name Woodey come from?
The last name Woodey is most commonly found today in the United States and Canada. It is also found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and France.
The earliest known Woodey ancestor on record was William Woodey, who lived in Georgia during the early 1700s. The Woodey name is believed to come from a Norman French surname, "Wodie". The surname was recorded in 1185 when Richard Wodie was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk.
The United States Census Bureau estimates over 1,000 people with the Woodey name living in the United States currently. This number is slightly lower in Canada, with an estimated 800 Woodeys living there currently. The largest concentrations of the Woodey name are found in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, and California in the United States, and Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia in Canada.
Woodey is not considered to be a rare surname, though is not as common as some other popular surnames like Smith or Miller.
Variations of the surname Woodey
Woodey is an uncommon surname with some variants and spellings, as well as a few other surnames of the same origin, as follows.
Woodey is the most common form of the name, with some variants and spellings such as Woodie, Woodee, Woody, Wodey, and Woodey.
Other surnames with the same origin as Woodey include Woods, Woody, Wodey, Woodie, Woodall, Woodhall, Woodhouse, Woodyard, and Woodhead.
Woodey is a surname derived from the Middle English word "wode", which means wood or forest. It was commonly used as a nickname for someone who lived or worked in the woods or forests, and over time the name stuck and was passed down through generations, becoming the surname we know today.
Woodall, Woodhall, and Woodhouse are derived from the same Middle English word, but also incorporate additional words such as "hull", "hall", and "house", indicating someone who lived in the woods or forests near a particular house, hall, or clearing.
Woodhead derives from the old English word, which means someone from the woods or forested area.
Woodyard is derived from the Old English words "wode yerd", which mean yard or enclosure in the woods or forest.
Overall, Woodey is an unusual surname with many variants and spellings, as well as a few other surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Woodey
- Harry Woodey- an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the New Zealand Warriors.
- Cuba Gooding Jr.: an American actor and director, known primarily for his Academy Award−winning performance in the filmJerry Maguire.
- RuPaul Andre Charles: an American drag queen, actor, model, singer, songwriter, and television personality.
- Jack Quaid: an American actor, best known for his roles as Marvel in The Hunger Games film series and Hughie Campbell onAmerricalore.
- Lydia Woodey: a Canadian actress best known for her role as Maverick in the television series Renegades.
- Charles Woodey: a British actor who has appeared in many films, television shows, and theatre productions.
- James Woodey: an Australian professional rugby league player, currently playing for the Melbourne Storm.
- Troy Woodey: a professional soccer player in Australia, playing for the Perth Glory Football Club.
- Hoda Kotb: an American television host, journalist, and author. She is co-host of NBC's The Today Show.
- Rasheeda Frost: an American singer, rapper, fashion designer, television personality, and entrepreneur.