Surname Wooden - Meaning and Origin

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M. Wooden

Wooden: What does the surname Wooden mean?

The last name Wooden is an English surname, believed to have derived from the Old English word “wudu” which means “woodland”. It is likely that the name was given to someone who lived in a wooded area or near a wood. It is also possible that it originated from the occupational name for someone who worked with wood, a carpenter or a woodworker.

In the medieval times, people were identified by their occupations or geographical locality. The name likely became hereditary in those families, and was eventually passed down through generations. The Wooden surname is also found in countries such as Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Today, the Wooden surname is widely known, with numerous people carrying the name. It is thought to signify someone who is naturally resolute, strong, and reliable, having derived from an occupation or place strongly associated with forests and forest-like conditions. This could be considered a metaphor for someone who shows strength and reliability in difficult moments.

Examples of famous people with the Wooden surname include John Wooden, an American basketball player and coach, Clarence Wooden who was a missionary in South Africa and former professor at the University of the Free State, and Edwin Wooden who is a professional wrestler.

Wooden: Where does the name Wooden come from?

The last name Wooden is quite common and can be found in many countries. In the United States it is the 848th most common surname, with an estimated 80,846 people having it as of the December 2019 census. It originates from English, Irish, and Scottish sources and likely refers to someone who worked with wood.

In the United Kingdom, Wooden is the 1,457th most common last name with an estimated 9,094 people having the name. The Wooden name is also fairly common in Ireland, where it is estimated to have been given to at least 290 people.

In Australia, the last name is found most frequently among the people of New South Wales. It is the 8560th most commonly given name there, believed to have been given to around 400 people. It is similarly common in Canada, where it is the 7,444th most common surname accounting for approximately 1,240 people.

In addition to those countries, Wooden has been found in Brazil, Germany, South Africa, and Switzerland. It is doubtless found in other places as well. All in all, the Wooden surname is quite widespread, found in many countries throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Wooden

The surname Wooden has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Woodin, Wooding, Woodens, Woodant, and Woodend. The spelling Woodin is a variant which originated from the Old English wooding meaning “woodland” and is commonly seen in Scotland and Northern England. The spelling Wooding also originated from the Old English wooding, and is occasionally seen in Scotland and Northern England as well. Woodens is another spelling originated from the Old English wooding and is typically found in Scotland and Northern England. Woodant, which originated from the Old French name "de Woudant," is most commonly found in the United States. A rare variant of Woodant is Woodend, which is also derived from the Old French name "de Woudant" and is found mainly in Scotland and Northern England. All of these variants, spellings, and surnames have their origins in the Old English and Old French names and share a common meaning.

Famous people with the name Wooden

• John Wooden: Former professional basketball player and head coach at UCLA who won 10 NCAA National Championships in a 12-year period.
• Nancy Wooden: American rower who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
• Josh Wooden: Former basketball player for the University of New Mexico.
• Harry Wooden: Former professional basketball player during the 1940s.
• Ruth Wooden: American civil and women's rights leader, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Public Agenda.
• Harry Wooden Jr.: Heir to the founder of the Wooden Automobile Company.
• Maurice Wooden: Former professional basketball player, currently an assistant coach at UCLA.
• Joe Wooden: Former NCAA basketball coach and executive.
• Susan Wooden: Former college basketball player and current NCAA basketball coach.
• David Wooden: American record producer and former executive with the National Music Publishers’ Association.

Other surnames

WoodellWoodersonWoodey