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 Joseph Underwood of Watertown. 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