WOODWORTH Family History

One of the unusual characteristics of the English surnames is the ability to develop a compound form where the elements have the same meaning. In this case, we have (apparently), the Olde English pre 7th Century "Wudu" and the 8th Century Anglo-Saxon "Worp", both meaning "wood". However, as we have not been able to positively identify any such place as "Woodworth", the nearest being "Wudutorp" (now Woodthorp, in Derbyshire), the origin placename cannot be guaranteed. Furthermore, the Anglo-Saxon official title of Wood-ward, the Forester in charge of the woodlands, has produced many alternative spellings, of which "Woodworth" could be one.