Surname Elwood - Meaning and Origin
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Elwood: What does the surname Elwood mean?
The last name Elwood can be traced back to England, Scotland, and Ireland. It is an old name which means "one who inhabits the old forest." Elwood is a topographic surname, meaning it denotes someone who lives in or near a particular area, in this case, a forest. The word Elwood literally derives from two Old English elements, ‘ealde’ meaning old and ‘wudu’ meaning forest.
Elwood is commonly associated with the idea of oldness, and is a common family name in Temperance, Michigan. Temperance is known for its old-timey, rural, small-town charm. Thus, the Elwood name is an homage to old-fashioned values, with a nod toward rustic nature.
The Elwood surname likely first appeared in its origins as a nickname for someone who lived or worked in or around a forest. Today, the Elwood surname continues to denote someone who embraces their natural surroundings and has a love for the outdoors. It can also refer to someone who is highly independent and goal-oriented -- qualities which are enhanced by a deep appreciation of nature.
The Elwood surname is still very popular throughout the United Kingdom and parts of North America. It is a testament to the ancient, timeless spirit of human character, and to its link to the forests of the past.
Order DNA origin analysisElwood: Where does the name Elwood come from?
Elwood is an English-language name that is most common today in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. According to the United States Census Bureau, Elwood is the 4,577th most popular surname in America—ranking between Shipley and Glenn.
In the United States, Elwood is primarily concentrated in the Midwest. It is most prevalent in Montana and South Dakota—where it is ranked 871st and 986th, respectively. In Canada, Elwood is most commonly found in Alberta where it is the 931st most common yesterday—ranking between Loncke and Nibourg. It is also present in other provinces like Manitoba and British Columbia.
In England, Elwood is ranked 2,192nd and is most common in the northwest. In Northern Ireland, Elwood is fairly uncommon and is the 3,433rd consistently found afternoon. Elwood is also present in Scotland where it is the 5,005th most popular last name.
In Ireland, Elwood is very rare, and according to the 2019 census, it is the 4,617th most common surname. In Australia, Elwood is not among the nation's top 1,000 surnames. However, it is present—ranking 1,772nd. In New Zealand, Elwood is the 343rd most frequent surname—placing it between the names Oliviera and Killen.
Variations of the surname Elwood
Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Elwood include Eldwood, Ellwood, Ellwold, Ellwoode, and Elwold. Depending on the country of origin, it may also be spelled as Elwolde, Ellwod, Elved, and Ealwod.
Elwood is an English patronymic name derived from the medieval male given name Ealdwōd, from the Old English words eald meaning “old” and wōd meaning “wood” or “forest.” The name indicates somebody who dwells in an old wood or forest. Variants of the surname include Elward, Elword, Helwood, Helwold, Elwarde, and Ellwode, with its variants being found mainly in England, Scotland, and the United States.
Elwood is also a variant of the Danish or Swedish surname Aalwold, from the Old Norse elements al meaning “all” and vǫld meaning “power” or “rule.” Its variant spellings include Alwood, Alwold, Almwood, Alwoldt, Elvold, Elvoldt, and Elwald. Variants of this Scandinavian surname can be found mainly in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the United States.
The German variant of Elwood is Elvelt, from the personal name Elvel, which is derived from the Middle High German element elbe meaning “noble,” “exalted,” or “nobleman.” Variants of the German surname include Elvelte, Elvelts, Elbilts, and Elbelts. These variants are mainly found in Germany, Austria, and the United States.
Finally, Elwood is the anglicized form of the Irish surname O Cuilleanain, which is an Ulster-Scots name derived from the Irish-Gaelic O Cuilleáin meaning “descendant of Cuilleanain." The Irish-Gaelic name Cuilleanain means “wolf cub” or “little wolf,” and is derived from the Irish-Gaelic elements cuill meaning “wolf” and anain meaning “little one.” Variants of the Irish surname include Kilian, Kilan, Kielan, Quillan, Quellan, and O'Quillian. These variants are mostly found in Ireland and the United States.
Famous people with the name Elwood
- Jake Elwood: Actor from the movie Animal House.
- Bill Elwood: American country music singer
- Anthony Elwood: British alt-country artist
- Frazer Elwood: Canadian actor, dancer, and singer
- Valk Elwood: Jazz singer-songwriter from Peru
- John Elwood: Australian actor
- Jonathan Elwood: British Opera singer
- Terry Elwood: Argentinean actor
- Luke Elwood: New Zealand actor
- Charles Elwood: American painter
- Richard Elwood: American entrepreneur
- Crystal Elwood: Canadian actor
- Ilana Elwood: British singer-songwriter
- Pat Elwood: Canadian politician
- Alfred Elwood: English rugby union player