Surname Woodrum - Meaning and Origin

Woodrum: What does the surname Woodrum mean?

The last name Woodrum is an occupational surname, believed to have originated from the Old English word 'wudurum'. This word likely refers to those who worked with wooden materials, such as carpenters, woodworkers, and particularly boat builders. It is thought that this name was given to those from England who specialized in constructing wooden boats for transport across the sea.

The surname Woodrum likely first appeared as a personal name in the Middle Ages in various parts of England. It was then adopted as a surname and eventually spread to other areas of the world including America, where descendants of the Woodrums settled in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the surname is most common in the United States.

In terms of its etymology, the name Woodrum is comprised of two parts. The first part is the Old English word 'wudu', which is a variation of 'wood', and the second part is the suffix 'rum', which has many meanings but is often associated with an occupational name. The use of the two together produces a name indicating an occupational specialty in wooden works.

Given that Woodrums were traditionally skilled woodworkers, the surname could also have symbolized the individual's talents and abilities to craft wood and build wooden boats. The last name could have served as a badge of pride and a reminder of the skills the Woodrums bestowed on their family and future generations.

Woodrum: Where does the name Woodrum come from?

The last name Woodrum is most commonly found in the United States of America today. According to Ancestry.com's surname distribution tool, the greatest concentration of people with the Woodrum surname live in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee in the eastern-central US.

The Woodrum name has been in America since at least the late 1600s. Records show that several Woodrums, including William Woodrum of Northumberland County, Virginia, appeared on a list of landowners in 1680. Woodrums can also be found in early records in colonial Maryland, western Pennsylvania, and Buckingham County, Virginia. Through the late 1700s, families with the Woodrum surname spread through western counties in Virginia and migrated south and west, likely following other relatives and friends or in search of new opportunities.

Oral histories tell stories of large families personal migrations, often with members like James Woodrum and his family ending up first in Kentucky and later in Indiana during the 1800s. Today, the Woodrum name is found in many states throughout the country, especially in the eastern and central US. The states with the highest concentrations of Woodrums remain largely the same, with Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee leading the way.

Variations of the surname Woodrum

The surname Woodrum is derived from Anglo-Saxon origin and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Woodrum, but there are many other variants and spellings as well.

Variants of Woodrum include Wodrom, Woodroom, Wudrum, Wodroom, Wodrum, Wudroom, Woodrun, and Wodrun. Other variants include Woodram, Wudram, Wodram, Woodrane, Woodroome, Woodrune, Woodroan, Woodroon, Wudrane, Wudroome, Wudrunne, Wudroan, Wodrane, Wodroome, Wodrunne, and Wodroon.

Several surnames share the same roots as the surname Woodrum. These surnames include Woodrum, Woodrow, Woodroof, Woodrough, Woodroff, Woodrowe, Woodruff, Woodroffe, and Woodroos.

Although some of these variants and surnames are more commonly used than others, they all share the same roots and have the same origin, which is the Anglo-Saxon language. It is important to do research to determine which variant or surname is most suitable for one’s particular family line.

Famous people with the name Woodrum

• Stephen Woodrum: American actor, film producer, and director, known for his roles in films such as The West Wing, Love & Other Drugs, and Spiderman 3.
• Brian Woodrum: American actor, best known for his role as Private Peter Tokar on the television show JAG.
• John Woodrum: American actor, producer, and writer, known for his roles in films including The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, and Spy Kids.
• Robert Woodrum: American actor, producer, and voice actor, known for his roles in films such as The Last Man on Earth, The Godfather Part III, and The Thing.
• Mason Woodrum: American actor, best known for his roles in films such as The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, and The Spectacular Now.
• Chris Woodrum: American actor, producer, and musician, best known for his roles in films such as Mud, Joe Dirt, and The Family Stone.
• Elizabeth Woodrum: American writer, producer, director, and actor, known for her work on the web series Present World and the short films Good Deeds and Not Far From Here.
• Michael Woodrum: American film and television actor, best known for his roles on shows such as Monk and Sons of Anarchy.
• Jill Woodrum: American business owner, philanthopist, and film producer, best known for her work on the films Private Parts and Running with Scissors.
• Patrick Woodrum: American voice actor, best known for his work on video games such as Batman: Arkham Asylum and Fallout: New Vegas.

Other surnames

WoodrichWoodridgeWoodriffWoodringWoodroffeWoodromeWoodroofWoodroughWoodroveWoodrowWoodruffWoodruffe