Surname Lightwood - Meaning and Origin
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Lightwood: What does the surname Lightwood mean?
The surname Lightwood is of English origin and has multiple possible meanings. The first meaning stems from the surname referring to somebody who is a 'light woodman,' or somebody who sources light woods such as birch or willow for making baskets, thatching, fuel, etc. The second meaning implies the namesake refers to somebody associated with a place called Lightwood, a settlement in Staffordshire which may have derived from the Old English term 'leoht wood.'
The last meaning of the surname Lightwood suggests someone who lives in a forest floor where the trees are spaced apart, allowing sunlight to approach the ground below. This could either reflect an environment within a working forest or simply a glade where nature thrives.
Whichever the origin of the surname, it is a symbol of someone brave and resourceful. The Lightwood name bearer demonstrated strength and resilience in the Middle Ages which has been echoed in the modern world as the Lightwood name still exists today.
Order DNA origin analysisLightwood: Where does the name Lightwood come from?
The last name Lightwood is most commonly found in Australia today. According to Ancestry.com, the top three countries with the most people named Lightwood are Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In Australia, the name is most common in the state of Victoria, with around 360 people. It is followed by New South Wales, with around 250 people.
The last name Lightwood originated in Great Britain, and it is most prevalent in the English counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Wiltshire. It is also notable in Scotland, specifically in cities such as Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
The name Lightwood is believed to be derived from an Old English name, such as Lichteleode. It is likely to mean a person living in a forest clearing with trees, or by a light wood. The name is usually used as an occupational surname, as people living near woodlands were likely to be employed in forestry.
The Lightwood name may have also started stemming from the geographic features in Derbyshire, where a number of places were named after the surname. For example, Lightwood Hay and Lightwood Road are both names of streets in Derbyshire.
Keeping the tradition going, many people named Lightwood in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand may have Canadian relatives. The name is slowly becoming more popular in Canada, as many people have moved from the other countries to this province. Those with the last name Lightwood could even be related to the numerous Canadian First Nations people who were given the name by British and French settlers.
Variations of the surname Lightwood
Lightwood is an English surname derived from a place name with the same name. Variations and alternate spellings include Liteeood, Lightewode, Lighwood, Ligwood, and Lightwod.
The origin of the name has roots in Olde English from the word lēoht and wudu meaning a clearing in the woods lit up by the sun. Originally, in medieval times, there may have been a settlement near a clearing of the woods in the middle of which were a series of wide and airy pathways. It is assumed that because of the strong and bright light that filled this area, locals may have revenue it the "Lightwood," which later became a surname.
The first recorded variant of the name is listed in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, as Roger de Lightwod. Also in 1273, Richard de Lighteood is listed in the Close Rolls of Worcestershire. In 1564, William Ligwood was christened in St. Peter's, Cornhill, London, and in 1574, one Thomas Lighwood was listed in the Records of Chardstock, Devon.
Over the centuries, the surname was absorbed into other countries, and is found in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. Some derivatives include the surnames Leete, Litue, Lyte, and Lytefot. It is also quite common to find the surname Lightwood anglicised to Licht or Lytch, or changed to other spellings such as Lightewood, Lightnowd, and Lightnowde.
Famous people with the name Lightwood
- Jemma Lightwood, Australian actress
- Izzy Lightwood, American actor
- Celia Lightwood, British actress
- Will Lightwood, British actor
- Gabriel Lightwood, American actor
- Jace Lightwood, American actor
- Matthew Lightwood, American actor
- Magnus Lightwood, American actor
- Amalia Lightwood, American actress
- Doreen Lightwood, British actress
- Kim Lightwood, British model
- Sienna Lightwood, British actress
- Jason Lightwood, American director
- Tom Lightwood, British magician
- Edythe Lightwood, American singer
- Inez Lightwood, American fashion designer
- Jean Lightwood, Canadian artist
- Dan Lightwood, Canadian radio host
- Karen Lightwood, Australian author
- Cymbeline Lightwood, American poet