CHIEF:  Alastair Ivor Gilbert Boyd 7th Baron Kilmarnock

Richard G. and Jerri Lynn Boyd

568 W. Friedrich Street

Rogers City, Mich. 49779

UNDERWOOD

The name Underwood emerged as a notable English name in Nottinghamshire where they were seated from very ancient times, before and after the Norman Conquest in 1066. There were several noble families with the Underwood name both in England and Ireland. The Coats of Arms are all strikingly similar.  The earliest trace of the name in documents is found as far back as 1177 in the Pedigree of Underwood of Bixley, Norfolk, in the Harleian Manuscript in the British Museum.

According to genealogical scholars there were four primary sources for second names as follows: Occupation, Location, Father's name, and Personal Characteristics.  As the early population grew people began to take a second name to distinguish one "John" from another "John" in the same villiage.  The Underwood name appears to be locational in origin, and is believed to be associated with the English, meaning, "one who came from Underwood (within
a forest)."  In the archives it has been recorded as Underwoods, Underwoode, Underwode, Underwod, and Undirwode.  These changes in spelling even occurred between father and son. From century to century the spellings changed.   (The Underwood Families of America by Dr. Lucius Marcus Underwood.)
 

Underwood: From the small place named Underwood in the parish of Symington,Ayrshire. John Vndirwode, who served on an inquest made at Prestwick in 1470, is probably the John Vndirvode, burgess of the same burgh in the same year (Prestwick, p. 2, 12).  Ondirwode 1507, Ondirwodd
1528, Vndirwod and Wndirwod 1470, Vndirwode 1486, Wndirwod 1476.
(Black's Surnames of Scotland, pp. 788-789)

NOTE: Use this data as a finding tool, just as you would any other secondary source. When you find the name of an ancestor listed, confirm the facts in original sources.

Back to Main Page

More 

Information

Copyright 2001- 2007  © Clan Boyd Society International. All Rights Reserved. Web Site Designed by "WebCreationDirect" 

Do not duplicate in any form without permission of Clan Boyd Society International.