Surname Woodroof - Meaning and Origin
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Woodroof: What does the surname Woodroof mean?
The surname Woodroof is an Anglo-Saxon name of Old English origin. It is a locational surname derived from any of several places similarly named, including Woodroffe in Bedfordshire, and Middle Woodroofe in Dorset. In Old English, the word ‘wood’ is believed to derive from the word ‘wudu’, which means ‘wood’, and ‘roof’ is thought to come from the Old English word ‘rof’, which means ‘cleared land’. Therefore, Woodroof as a whole can mean ‘cleared land in the woods’.
Due to its locational origin, the surname may have been used to denote people who were born from a certain area, or literally ‘people of Woodroofe’. Woodroofe was a place where people lived and worked, and over time the word became associated with the surname. It could also have been adpoted to mark people who had moved to another area where similar Place-names existed.
The first recorded spelling of the name is of William de Wyderouffe, which was dated 1377, in the Place-Names of Westmorland. This was during the reign of King Edward III of England, 1327-1377. Throughout the centuries, bearers of this surname would have had to defend or protect their land and family, and retain their position in society, in order to survive.
Order DNA origin analysisWoodroof: Where does the name Woodroof come from?
The last name Woodroof is most common today in the United States of America. More specifically, it is seen mainly in the Southeastern US, including states such as Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. It is especially strong in the Appalachian and Blue Ridge regions of these states where it is the 445th most common surname according to WorldNames PublicProfiler.
In the 18th and 19th centuries when the use of surnames was still relatively new, the Woodroof surname appears to have been fairly widespread and may have its roots in English heritage. It also appears in substantial numbers on the United States’s Military Graves Registration Database, reflecting its distribution in the US’s early history.
In terms of modern distribution, Woodroof is a rare enough surname that a number of variants crop up, such as Woodruf, Woodroffe, Woodruff, Woodrough, and Woodroughs. However, it is still a well-known surname across the Southeastern United States and is becoming increasingly common in other parts of the country, especially in the Midwest.
Variations of the surname Woodroof
Woodroof is a rare surname with fewer than 100 people having the name in the United States, according to US census records. The surnamed dates back to around 1500 in England and is thought to have been derived from the Old English and Scandinavian words for 'wood' and 'roof'. It is usually spelled 'Woodroof' but there are some variations such as Woodruff and Woodroffe.
The early Woodroofs in Britain were localized to areas such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. In the US, Woodroofs can be found primarily in VA and NC.
Other spellings and variants of Woodroof include Wydroff, Wyderoff, Woolroof, Woodroofe, Woodrofe, Woodroffe, Woodruff, Woodruffe, Wodruff, Wodruffe. Although these spellings often have slightly different origins, they're all thought to have descended from the same family.
Woodruff is the most common variant of the name in the US, but this spelling will often be mistaken for other surnames such as Woodroft, Woodward and Woodbridge. It's also been known to be confused with the similarly-spelled Woodrough.
Finally, unrecorded spellings and surname variations of Woodroof may have come about through varying accents, transcription errors, and similar-sounding last names. Such names could include Woodruffe, Woolroof, Wydroff, and Woodridge.
Famous people with the name Woodroof
- Christopher Woodroofe: an English lawyer and Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency.
- Saul Woodroofe: a multi-instrumental rock musician from Woodstock, Georgia.
- Macon Woodroof: a former college football player who was a two-time All-American at the University of Delaware.
- Jebediah Woodroof: an American bishop of the United Methodist Church and the 37th President of Asbury Theological Seminary.
- Bill Woodroof: a Canadian former legislator and longtime Member of the Legislative Assembly for Durham South.
- Donna Woodroof: a Grammy-nominated singer from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Owen Woodroof: winner of the bronze medal in the men's shot put at the 1952 Olympic Games.
- Jesse Woodroof: a former college basketball player and second overall pick of the 1968 NBA Draft.
- Keith Woodroof: a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues in 1969 and 1970.
- Rod Woodroof: a former racing driver who competed in IndyCar, USAC, and ChampCar.