Surname Vowdon - Meaning and Origin
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Vowdon: What does the surname Vowdon mean?
The surname Vowdon is derived from the Old English word "wǣd" which means "wood". It is also derived from the Middle English words "vowd" and "vobbe", which both meant "woodland". The surname originated as a type of habitational name, which was given to those who lived near or in a wooded area. It is a locational name, which developed from a place where an individual or family once resided.
The name Vowdon may also be linked to the Old English word "wǣld" which means "forest". This name was often used for those who lived in, or near, a forested area. Vowdon is believed to have been derived from a place in Staffordshire which is now known as Outwood.
Vowdon is an uncommon surname in the United Kingdom and it is most frequently found in Staffordshire, which is where the original Vowdon family resided. The Vowdon family have lived in this area for hundreds of years and the name is still used by descendants of the original family in the region.
The surname Vowdon is also often linked to the Old English words "wōd" and "berend" which mean "guide" and "leader". It is believed that the original Vowdon family was of an aristocratic nature and they held a great power in the region in the past. The name has since been passed through the generations and is still used by families in the area today.
Order DNA origin analysisVowdon: Where does the name Vowdon come from?
The last name Vowdon is relatively uncommon today, however, ancestral records indicate that it was more widely used in some regions of the United Kingdom, particularly around the Scottish Borders. Prior to the 19th century, the surname was documented in various records and deeds in parts of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and throughout the Border region.
Documented records of Vowdons date back to the 12th century during the reign of King Edward I. Records indicate that one of the earliest records of the surname was held by a William de Vowdon, who was recorded in a 1273 document in Scotland. This was shortly followed by a Henry de Vowdon, a Scottish knight who was named in a charter dated 1494.
The villages of Vowdon and Vowdonwell in Yorkshire also bear the same name, which could be in indication of the prevalence of the surname in the area at the time. However, the current population of these areas are relatively small, thus the surname is not as widely used there anymore.
Throughout the 18th and 19th-century records, Vowdon was found more commonly in Northumberland, Cumberland, and across the Borders including in Scotland and Ireland, as well as in London.
As recorded by the British Surname & DNA Survey, the last name is found today mainly in the UK, largely concentrated in southern Scotland and northern England. Therefore, Vowdon is still in use, but its prevalence in certain areas has decreased in recent generations.
Variations of the surname Vowdon
Vowdon is an origin for a variety of surnames. It can be found spelled in a variety of ways. In addition to Vowdon, common variants include Vawdon, Voedon, Vouden, Voudon, Vowden, and Vowdon.
Vowdon is a patronymic surname, meaning that it originated from a surname derived from a personal name. In this case, the personal name was probably Owain or Owen. Many variations of these names are still in use today, including variants such as Eoin, Ewan, and Ewen.
Because of the various spellings, there are also a variety of possible surnames derived from this root. Some of the more common surnames include Vawdrey, Vawdreye, Vawdry, Vawdrye, Vodrey, Vodreye, Voudrey, Voudreye, Vowdrey, Vowdreye, and Vowdry.
In addition to the above surnames, a branch of the Vowdon and Voedon family may have taken on surnames of Gaelic origin, likely derived from Owain. Examples of these surnames would include McAuliffe, McWhorter, MacOwen, McOwen, MacExie, and McExie.
The various spellings of Vowdon can also lead to the creation of surnames which would have originally been seen as nicknames or to signify an individual’s trade or place of origin. Examples of these kinds of surnames include Videon, Vowdan, Vowdane, Voedane, Veddon, and Veddon, with each having its own unique story and origin.
Famous people with the name Vowdon
- Scott Vowdon: former professional rugby league player from Australia.
- Frank Vowdon: former professional ice hockey player from the United States.
- Andrew Vowdon: former professional boxer from the United Kingdom.
- Douglas Vowdon: former professional cricket player from England.
- Albert Vowdon: former professional tennis player from Germany.
- Harry Vowdon: former professional footballer from Brazil.
- John Vowdon: former professional racecar driver from the United States.
- Sarah Vowdon: professional show jumper from New Zealand.
- Emily Vowdon: professional snowboarder from Canada.
- Katie Vowdon: professional alpine skier from Austria.
- Roy Vowdon: former professional basketball player from the United States.
- David Vowdon: former professional golfer from the United Kingdom.
- Thomas Vowdon: professional soccer player from Hungary.
- Anna Vowdon: professional triathlete from Australia.
- Hayley Vowdon: professional surfer from South Africa.