Surname Ellingwood - Meaning and Origin
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Ellingwood: What does the surname Ellingwood mean?
The last name Ellingwood is an English name that can be traced back to pre-10th century Olde English. It is a name for someone who was originally from the village of Ellington (in Olde English, "Ella's Tun") in East Kent, England. The meaning of the name comes from the word "ellin" which means "calm" or "fair weather" combined with "tun" to mean "town." Essentially, the name Ellingwood refers to the individual who was from the fair-weather town of Ellington.
The Ellingwood surname flourished in the Middle Ages when travel to and from Ellington increased and the name began to spread further afield. It was particularly common in the east of England, particularly around East Kent and East Sussex, from which many of the bearers of the name originated.
Today, the name Ellingwood can be found in its original place of origin, and it is widely spread throughout other areas of Britain and America. It has also taken on many nicknames and spelling variations throughout history. In some families the name has been spelled Ellinwood, Ellynwood, Ellinwode, Ellyngwood, and Ellynwoode. The Ellingwood surname is a reminder of the peaceful village of old, and those who descended from it.
Order DNA origin analysisEllingwood: Where does the name Ellingwood come from?
The last name Ellingwood is derived from the Old English term 'Ellend', which translates to 'foreigner'. The name can be traced back to the early 12th century in England, with records of an Adam Ellend in Suffolk in 1160.
Today, the surname Ellingwood is primarily found in the United States. The most common state with the surname is Massachusetts, followed by Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The name also appears in the mid-west and south. Specifically, the states of Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Washington and Georgia.
The surname Ellingwood is also found in other English-speaking countries. Records show people with the last name Ellingwood in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is likely that many people with the last name have emigrated from England or the United States to these countries.
As with many surnames, the Ellingwood family likely descended from a single common ancestor. This could explain the prevalence of the name in countries that were colonized by the British.
Overall, the last name Ellingwood is still a relatively common name today, having descended from a long line of ancestors. It is mainly found in the United States, but is also present in other English-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname Ellingwood
The surname of Ellingwood has several different variants, spellings, and even surnames of the same origin. These include, but are not limited to, Elkinwood, Ellingworth, Ellinwood, Elphinwood, Elington, Eleson, Eledson, and Elson.
The origin of the surname Ellingwood is said to be Old Norse in origin. The root of the name originates from Ellingr, which means ‘little boy’ and the Old English word ‘wudu’ which means ‘wood’, together making ‘Elling’s wood’. It could also be from the Old English ‘elling’ which means ‘a clearing in a group of trees’.
The name can also be found with more modernised spellings, including Elliotwood, Elwood, Ellwood, etc. which have been anglicised over the centuries.
In Scotland, the name Ellingwood was likely spelled as Elkenwood and could be derived from Gaelic. In Gaelic, the phrase ‘ailig an fhiodh’ means ‘elks’ wood’, and could have been adapted into ‘Elkenwood’ over the years.
Other surnames of the same origin include Ellwood, Ellerwood, Ellater, Elkhart, Elkenwood, Elverton, Elwing, and Elsworthy. These surnames have derived from a variety of languages and locations, including Old English, Old Norse, and Scottish Gaelic.
It is likely there many more variations of this surname, as well as surnames of the same origin, with the same meaning. Despite the many different variants, spellings, and surnames of same origin, it is thought that all of them may ultimately derive from the variations of the Old Norse ‘Ellingr’ (or ‘little boy’) and the Old English ‘ wudu’ (or ‘wood’).
Famous people with the name Ellingwood
- Lee Ellingwood-American basketball coach
- Harlan Ellingwood-American professor of government
- Denney Ellingwood-American commercial illustrator
- Abraham Ellingwood-American Educator
- Hope Ellingwood-American artist
- Bill Ellingwood-American former professional ice hockey player
- Betsy Ellingwood-American politician
- Rhoda Ellingwood-American historian and pacifist
- John Ellingwood-American major league pitcher
- Marian Ellingwood-American local historian and author