Whitewood Family History

The name Whitwood (WR Yorks) is recorded as Witeuude in 1086, Whitewude in 1197, and Whittewood in 1364. It may also derive from other similarly named locations, such as Whitewood Farm in Barton under Needwood (Staffs), which appears as le Whyte Wode in 1337, and Whitewood Farm in Norton Malreward (Somerset), recorded as Whytwood in 1585. These place-names stem from Old English hwīt meaning ‘white’ and wudu meaning ‘wood’.

The modern surname from Yorks may have a different origin. Some of the post-medieval bearers mentioned might be associated with another variant of Whitehead. In Yorkshire, it can also be a variant of Whitworth, as suggested by Redmonds. He notes the presence of Lawrence Whitworth in 1634 and Lawrence Whitwood in 1636 within the Parish Registers of Rothwell, WR Yorks.

Redmonds points out that the medieval surname derived from Whitwood (WR Yorks) may not have survived; there's a significant gap in the available evidence. This gap exists between the late 15th-century bearers and the subsequent appearance of Whitwood forms in the 17th century. Thus, the lineage and evolution of the surname can be quite complex.