Surname Packwood - Meaning and Origin
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Packwood: What does the surname Packwood mean?
The surname Packwood is thought to be of English origin, though its exact origin is uncertain. The earliest records of the name in Britain date back to the late 13th century, when it was a topographical name for someone who lived near a patch of woodland. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words ‘pac’ meaning ‘a patch of cleared land’, and ‘wudu’ meaning ‘wood’. Alternatively, the name may have originated as a locational name from any of the now extinct places called Packwood in Warwickshire, Hampshire and Worcestershire. Variants of the Packwood surname include Peelwood, Packman, Packer and Packwood.
Packwood is a habitational name found in various parts of England. Records of the surname in England date back to 1348, when Willielmus de Pakewud was mentioned in ‘Medieval Records of Somerset’, and 1280, when William de Pakwood appears in the ‘Hundred Rolls of Warwickshire’. Over the centuries the name has spread to other parts of the world, as has been evidenced by the arrival of Packwood settlers in the New World. Early settler records of the name include James Packwood and his wife who arrived in Virginia in 1699, while in 1782, Thomas Packwood arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his wife and son.
Today, the Packwood name is widespread across the world, with a particularly large representation in the United States. Individuals bearing this surname are thought to be proud of their heritage and loyal to their family.
Order DNA origin analysisPackwood: Where does the name Packwood come from?
The last name Packwood is most common in the United Kingdom today. It is particularly associated with the cities of Birmingham and Coventry in the UK, specifically in the West Midlands region. This surname is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages and is thought to come from a location name, specifically a farm known as Packwood, which existed in Warwickshire in the 1300s.
Historically, it appears to be most common in the counties of Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, in that order. However, due to shifts in population it is now more widely spread throughout England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man. As of 2018, the name was ranked 12, 372 for frequency in the United Kingdom, with 52.8% of the bearers located in England, 34.3% in Scotland, 7.3% in Wales, and 5.6% in Northern Ireland or other parts of the UK.
The name Packwood can also be found in the United States, particularly in states such as Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and California. It is much less common in the United States compared to the UK, as of 2018 it was ranked as the 13,211 most common surname in the US. A rental company in Pennsylvania, The Packwood Companies, has been in business since the 1950s and is likely named for one of the founding families that still owns this organization today.
Variations of the surname Packwood
Packwood is an English surname, largely concentrated in the southern part of the country. There are a number of variations, spellings and other surnames of the same origin.
One of the alternative spellings is Packwoods. Packwode and Packwaud are two further spellings. Some alternative surnames with the same origin are Parkwood, Parswood, Poppwood, Parkwode and Parkswood.
Pakewood, Parkewood, Packwoode, Packwooode, and Parkwoode are some of the olden-day spellings for Packwood. Packvood, Parxwood and Parkword are some of the more modern versions of Packwood.
The more peculiar variants are Hackwood, Parsewood, Parkwits, Parkweat, Parkweil and Parcwood.
Cockwood (from the old English name Cakewude) and Pack Cut are two regional names derived from Packwood. Some other related surnames with slightly different origins are Packer, Packard, Packer, and Packham.
Overall, Packwood is an old English surname with a variety of spellings and variant surnames. While the most common version is Packwood, there are numerous other related spellings and surnames derived from the same origin.
Famous people with the name Packwood
- Thomas Packwood: English politician, MP for Dudley and the son of John Packwood.
- John Packwood: English politician, Member of Parliament for Birmingham South from 1966 to 1970.
- Alex Packwood: British former skier, competing for Great Britain in the 1948 Olympics in St. Moritz.
- Peter Packwood: British athlete and skier, who competed in the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.
- Bob Packwood: American politician, who held office for 25 years as a Republican U.S. Senator from Oregon.
- Joshua Packwood: American writer, educator, and activist who was the first African-American valedictorian at his high school.
- Thomas Packwood Lloyd: British writer and political activist, working to gain the rights of the Welsh language during the 19th century.
- Sarah Packwood: British philanthropist, who founded the charity National Ageing Research Institute and served as its chairman from 1992 to 2004.
- Onochie Packwood: British film director working in the Nigerian film industry.
- Rosy Packwood: British singer and musician, best known for her work with British band Pop Will Eat Itself.