Surname Woodby - Meaning and Origin
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Woodby: What does the surname Woodby mean?
The last name Woodby is an English surname, with variations being found in other countries such as Scotland and Wales. It is a topographic surname, which refers to a place of residence. It is derived from the Old English terms ‘wudu’ meaning ‘woods’ and ‘by’ meaning ‘enclosure’. Therefore, the surname indicates a family who lived near a wood or a grove.
Woodby is an interesting surname to study as there is very little information about its origins or the branches of the family tree. It is known, however, that the Woodby family has been of some considerable wealth since at least 1205. Records show that Sir Thomas Woodby held the manor of Bolton in 1205, and the family maintained various manors in both the Cumbrian and Lancashire regions.
The Woodby family has continued to produce notable members throughout generations. Preachers, authors, and artists have all emerged from this family. The most notable member was the eighteenth-century writer William Woodby, who published a collection of comic plays and poetry.
In modern times, the Woodby surname continues to be used by many families. It is an excellent reflection of the diverse and rich ancestry that has been connected with the name and its various branches over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWoodby: Where does the name Woodby come from?
The last name Woodby is mainly found in England and the United States today. According to the US Census Bureau, there are currently 451 individuals with this last name living in the United States. The Woodby surname is mostly concentrated in the states of Virginia, Maryland, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
The Woodby surname is believed to have derived from Old English words for “wood settlement” or “woodfort”, likely referencing the forests once common in the regions where this surname has been found. It is also believed that the Woodby surname was used as a topographical or geographical locational name to describe people living near a wooded area.
The Woodby surname is also found in England today. It first appeared in Oxfordshire in the 1200s, and since then has spread throughout the country. The earliest traced record of the Woodby last name in England was in 1273, and since then records of the Woodby surname have been found in a variety of regions, including London, Lancashire, Warwickshire, and Cambridgeshire.
In addition to being found in England and the United States, the Woodby surname is found in a handful of countries throughout the world. Records show this surname in France, Italy, Germany, and the Dominican Republic, among other places.
For those with the Woodby surname, it is likely that their lineage can be traced back to England. Many with this British surname have immigrated to the United States, and the Woodby name is now found in a variety of places throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Woodby
The surname Woodby has several variants, spellings and surnames associated with it.
Woodby is a variant of the English surname Woodbine, and is thought to have originated in the county of Lancashire in England. The name Woodby has been spelt a variety of ways, including Woodbye, Woodby, Woodbi, Wooedby, Woodiby, Woodbee, and Woodbie.
Woodbee or Woodby is sometimes found spelt as Woodbid or Woodip. Woodbine can be used as a surname for the variant Woodby.
The surname Woodby is also associated with German surnames such as Wodbier, Wodabie, Wodabey, Wodabu and Wodiby.
Woodby is also associated with the Anglo-Saxon surname Wodeby, which was derived from the Old English word "wudu" meaning "wood". This surname was first found in various counties around Britain, including Devon in the West Country.
Zoerb is another surname related to Woodby, which is derived from the German word "zurlber" meaning "from the woods".
The Americanizing of Woodby appears to have happened with the coinage of new surnames such as Woodby, Woodsby, Woodburn and Woodson.
In conclusion, Woodby is a variant surname that has several other variants, spellings, and surnames associated with it. It is an Anglo-Saxon name as well as a German one and the Americanization of this surname has brought forth a new set of surnames.
Famous people with the name Woodby
- Victoria Woodby: British actress, comedienne, singer-songwriter and director
- Madison Woodby: American dice-game streamer and YouTuber
- Jack Woodby: Australian chef and restaurateur
- Thomas Woodby: English politician
- Martin Woodby: British actor
- Justin Woodby: American actor
- Gary Woodby: American entrepreneur and investor
- Luke Woodby: British football player
- Alex Woodby: British actor
- Dale Woodby: Australian football player