This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the wood,' from residence thereby. Common to every mediaeval register all over the country. With Wode, compare Wodehouse.

Andrew ate Wode. Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Richard de la Wode, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Elias in le Wode, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Walter de la Wode, Herefordshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Robertas del Wodde, Webster, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Thomas del Wode, smythe, 1379: ibid.

Robertas del Wode, 1379: ibid.

Modern instances are needless.

Local, from residence near a wood (Old English wudu). The name appears first in record in the Latinized form de Bosco (see Boyce ) There is an Old English personal name, Wuda, from which the name might be derived. This became in ME. Wode, and later Wood, but the local derivation is most probable for the name in Scotland. William Wod was a witness to the valuation of Kilravock and Easter Geddes in 1295 (Cau ror, p. 3; Rose, p. 30). In 1370 John Wode complained of having been plundered by wreckers (Bain, IV, 164). Ade Wood in Garvald and Roger Wode in Louchurde were tenants under Douglas, 1376 (RHM., I, p. Ivii; II, p, 16). A horse was stolen from Adam dictus Wode, husbandman of the bishop of Moray, 1398 (REM., p. 212), and Hugo o' the Wode, 'scocheman,' had a royal pardon, 1407 (Bain, IV, 734). William de le Wod is in record, 1413 (CDE., 21). Thomas Wod, a witness in Newbattle, 1458 (Neubotle, p. 246). Patrick of Wod witnessed an instrument of sasine, 1476, and Thom of Wod witnessed a declaration by John of Roule, 1479 (Home, 23, 25). John Vode was a friar preacher in Aberdeen, 1486 (REA., II, p. 300), and Alexander Woyd was a tenant under the bishop of Glasgow, 1513 (Rental). Vod and Void 1526, Voud and Voude 1520, Vould 1522, Wodde 1491, Wode (of Largo) 1506, Woid 1567, Woide 1481.

From residence near one. It is often pluralized to Woods; and Attwood and Bywood are other forms of the same name. Its commonest medieval spelling is Atte-Wode, afterwards softened to A'Wood. Almost every considerable wood surnamed a family, and hence the commonness of the appellation, amounting in the Lond. Direct, in its various forms to more than 300 traders. This surname is found so early as Domesday in the form of De Silva. Suffolk. The forms De la Wode, In le Wode, and Ate Wode, are found in H.R.

Originally de Bosco-they bear an oak tree in their arms.

A surname very ancient in Scotland, first called De Bosco. The family bore trees in their coat of arms.

Wood. —This name has established itself in the greater number of the English counties; but its home, par excellence, is in the region comprised by Yorkshire, Cheshire, and the northern midland counties of Derbyshire, Notts, Staffordshire, and Leicestershire. It has, however, also an independent and important home in the south - east of England in Kent and Sussex. Except in Devonshire, it cannot be said to be at all frequent in the south - western counties. In the extreme north of England it is fairly represented; but it has crossed the border in scanty numbers, and though scattered about Scotland it has obtained no great hold. It is supplemented by Woods in Lancashire, Norfolk, Suffolk, etc.