Surname Woodson - Meaning and Origin

I'm More than West-European: The Unexpected Ancestry behind My Surname Woodson

In an adventurous endeavor to uncover my lineage, I embarked on a journey with an iGENEA DNA test. Unaware of what awaited, I was left astounded by the revelations about my surname, Woodson.

I. Woodson

Woodson: What does the surname Woodson mean?

The surname Woodson is of Anglo-Saxon heritage and originates from the pre 7th century Olde English words "wud" and "sunu," meaning "son of the woods" or "son of the forest." Traditionally, Woodson was used to refer to someone who lived near a patch of woodlands or who originated from a place whose name contained the term “wood.”

It is believed the name is derived from the family having descended from "Wightman of the Wood,” a Norman knight who established a homestead in Hampshire in the 1200s. The spelling of the name usually varied from Woodson to Woodeson to Woodsone.

The Woodson family has a long history of prominence, which is evident in its involvement in social, political, and economic affairs of British life. They built many ancestral homes throughout the United Kingdom and were prominent members of society.

Today, Woodson is much more widespread, as it is a common surname throughout the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. Many famous individuals have the Woodson surname, including football player Charles Woodson, botanist Robert Woodson Jr., musician K. Geoff Woodson, and actress Sam Woodson.

Woodson: Where does the name Woodson come from?

The last name Woodson is incredibly common in the United States. It is among the top 1,000 surnames, ranking at 573 nationally according to the 2020 census. It has been increasing in popularity over the past decade with a rank of 729 in the 2010 census.

Woodson is most prevalent in the southern United States, particularly in Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. In Tennessee, it is the 229th most common surname. In Louisiana, it is the 275th most common surname. Mississippi and Alabama both have Woodson in 307th place. Georgia has Woodson as the 350th most common surname and South Carolina places it in 406th place.

Outside the south, Woodson is commonly seen in Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. The name is slowly making its way into the Northeastern United States, although it does not curiously climb the rank in the West, with the exception of California where it is the 856th most popular surname.

Woodson is a unique surname with multiple origins. It is an English topographic name and is also seen as a patronymic surname or a combination of two English words, ‘woods’ and ‘son.’ As the name is becoming more popular in the United States it has become a sign of a distinct heritage, particularly among African-Americans.

Variations of the surname Woodson

The surname Woodson originates from England, with the earliest record of the naming having been found in the Staffordshire region. Variations of the name include Woodeson, Wadson, Wudson and Wadisson. There are also plenty of alternative spellings that have become popular throughout Europe and the United States. Popular variant spellings include Woodsen, Woodesson, Woodyson, Woodsum, Wadson, Wesson, Wudson and Wadisson.

In the United States, the surname Woodson is most common in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Variations of the surname Woodson have become popular throughout the United States. Some of the more common Americanized names include Woodson, Woodsonnie, Wooddson, Wudson, Wudsonn, Wudschild, Wudsux, and Woodsom. Some other less commonly used spellings include Wudeson, Wudzson and Wadzson.

The surname can also be further complicated due to its many hyphenated variants, as Woodson is often hyphenated to create surnames such as Wood-son, Woods-on, Wudson-Woodson and Wadson-Woodson. The surname Woodson can also be found in other countries, such as Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, and Ukraine.

The surname Woodson can offer an interesting insight into the history of family lineage, as its many ancient spellings and variations indicate that the family can trace its history back to Medieval England. Thus, people researching their family's ancestry may find a wealth of knowledge and evidence by looking into the various and oftentimes colourful hyphenated forms of the surname.

Famous people with the name Woodson

• Antoine Woodson: American professional basketball player
• Brad Woodson: American professional baseball coach
• Carl Woodson: American football safety
• Charles Woodson: American football player
• Troy Woodson: American professional football linebacker
• Dominique Woodson: American professional football cornerback
• Elijah Woodson: American tennis player
• Frank Woodson: American professional football player
• Hoagie Woodson: American professional football player
• Jim Woodson: American professional football player
• Kyle Woodson: American professional football player
• Lawrence Woodson IV: American football cornerback
• Malcolm Woodson: American professional football player
• Michael Woodson: American professional football player
• Monica Woodson: American professional basketball coach
• Richard Woodson: American professional football player
• Robert Woodson: American conservative activist
• Terron Woodson: American professional football coach
• Timothy Woodson: American professional football player
• VanWoodson: American professional football quarterback
• Willie Woodson: American professional football player

Other surnames

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Comments or additions to the name "Woodson"

12.04.2024
Son part may be Viking. and you forgot about yorkshire/jorvik