Surname Woodruff - Meaning and Origin

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K. Woodruff

Woodruff: What does the surname Woodruff mean?

Woodruff is an English and Scottish surname. It is derived from the Old English wudu-ruff which translates to “wood-ruff” or “woodland clearing". It is likely the name was given to someone who worked in the woods, or had a home in a wooded area. It may even have been given to someone who presided over an annual gathering in a clearing designated for hunting or other activities.

The name can be found in records dating as far back as the 13th century in England. Records of the name in Scotland date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. There was also a family by the name of Woodruff present in colonial America in the early 1600s.

The name is associated with a sense of being connected to nature. People with the Woodruff surname may often identify strongly with the natural world, or have a passion for outdoor activities. They may be independent and determined, drawn to self-employment, and may display a sense of pride in their heritage.

Today, Woodruff is a fairly widespread surname, appearing in all English-speaking countries and beyond.

Woodruff: Where does the name Woodruff come from?

The last name Woodruff is primarily seen in the United States today, particularly in the Midwest and southern states. It is most common in states such as Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. It also has a strong presence in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia.

In terms of population concentrations, Woodruff is primarily seen in the cities and metropolitan areas of Birmingham, AL; Louisville, KY; Jackson, MS; Little Rock, AR; Memphis, TN; Louisville, KY; Nashville, TN; Knoxville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Richmond, VA; and Charleston, SC.

The Woodruff family has a long and well-documented history throughout the southeastern United States, particularly in areas where the family’s patriarchs settled in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Family stories often point to German and Swiss ancestors, although this has not been verified through genealogical records.

On a national level, Woodruff ranks approximately 2,000th or 3,000th in terms of popularity, making it a relatively rare surname. As such, it is a unique part of the southeastern US heritage.

Variations of the surname Woodruff

The surname Woodruff is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from the combination of two Old English elements, "wude" meaning "wood" and "rufa" which means "ridge". Its variants include Woodroof, Woodroffe, Woodruf, Wudruf, Wodruff and Wudrufe.

Woodruff is a common surname in the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Ireland. In the UK, spellings of the surname can include Woodroof, Woodroffe and Woodruf. In the United States and Canada, the spellings woodrufe, Wudruf and Wodruff are used, while in Australia, Woodruff and Wudrufe are most common.

Some people have adopted various versions of the surname, including Woodruffe, Woodroft, Woodrove, Woodrief, Woodriffe, Woodriff, Woodriffe, Woodriffe, Woodrof, Woodrum, Woodruoff, Woodrum, Wodruffe, Wudruff, Wudrof, Wudroff and Wudrouff, among others.

Many of these spellings are currently found in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and other countries. In some areas, families have adopted a particular spelling of the surname, such as Woodrum in the United States and Wudrof in Australia. Some families have adopted a hybrid of Woodruff and another surname, such as Woodruffson or Woodruffen.

In the United States, it is also common for people to shorten their surname to Wood or Ruff, or combine the two in some way. In Canada, the spelling Wudroff is also often used.

In other countries, the spelling of Woodruff has been changed, such as in Scotland, where the spelling is Wudrove, and Ireland, where it is Wudrof. In Germany, it is Wudroff, and in the Netherlands, Wudrofe. In France, it is usually spelled Woodroffe or Woodruffe.

This shows that the surname Woodruff has significant diversity in terms of spelling and variations throughout the world. People can choose to adopt whatever spelling and variant of the surname they wish, making it a highly adaptable name.

Famous people with the name Woodruff

• Laura Woodruff: Emmy award-winning writer and producer who has worked on a number of comedy programs and movies
• Rod Woodruff: professional bass angler and owner of the Moody River Bass Company
• Lakewood Charles Woodruff: American astronomer, known for his pioneering work in stellar spectroscopy
• Elliott Woodruff: African-American traveller and author, made a journey around the world in 1876-1877
• Earle Woodruff: early American Baptist missionary and educator in Abyssinia
• Allen C. Woodruff: American botanist and ecologist
• Owen Woodruff: Australian military leader, served in India and the Sudan
• Andrina Woodruff: American professional wrestler, competing in Impact Wrestling and other promotions
• Robert Woodruff: American business executive, served as the President of The Coca-Cola Company
• Susan Woodruff: American biochemist, known for developing methods to detect trace metals in proteins and enzymes

Other surnames

WoodruffeWoodrum