Underwood Genealogy and Underwood Family History Information

Underwood is a surname of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having lived under the trees in a forest, below a forest on a hillside, or in either of the settlements called Underwood in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire, or in the parish of Symington, Ayrshire. It is derived from the Old English preposition under plus wuda, a wood.

One of the earliest recorded Underwood name bearers to enter America was Joseph Underwood http://www.geni.com/people/Joseph-Underwood/6000000002946661965?through=6000000006234779462. On January 2, 1634 he embarked from London on the ship Bonaventure bound for Virginia.

Variations: Underwoode, Underwode

Suggested Readings:

• Isaac W. Underwood: His Ancestors and Descendants by Willie Bruce Underwood
• The Underwood Families of America by Lucien Marcus Underwood

Sources:

• http://www.houseofnames.com/underwood-family-crest
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwood
• http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Underwood