Find out how popular the last name Elwood is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Elwood.

Elwood, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Elwood surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elwood in America

Elwood is the 6744th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elwood surname appeared 5,000 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Elwood.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elwood to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Elwood

The surname Elwood has its origins in England, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English elements "ell," meaning elder tree, and "wudu," meaning wood or forest. The name likely referred to someone who lived near an elder wood or grove.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elwood can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Ailwudu." This early record suggests that the name was already in use during the late 11th century in England.

During the medieval period, the name Elwood appeared in various forms, including Elewode, Elwode, and Elwod. These variations reflect the changes in spelling and pronunciation over time. The name was also associated with certain place names, such as Elwood in Gloucestershire and Elwood Park in Staffordshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Elwood throughout history include:

1. John Elwood (c. 1580-1634), an English clergyman and author who wrote "The Survey of Anti-Christ," a work criticizing the Catholic Church.

2. Thomas Elwood (1639-1713), an English writer and Quaker who was a close friend of the poet John Milton. Elwood transcribed several of Milton's works, including "Paradise Lost."

3. Anne Katherine Elwood (1686-1757), an English poet and playwright known for her tragedies and translations of classical works.

4. Samuel Elwood (1774-1837), an American surveyor and politician who served as the Surveyor General of Pennsylvania from 1821 to 1825.

5. Douglas J. Elwood (1919-1998), an American psychologist and professor known for his work in clinical psychology and psychological assessment.

Throughout its history, the surname Elwood has maintained a connection to its Anglo-Saxon roots, reflecting its origins in the woodlands and forests of England. While not a particularly common name, it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including authors, politicians, and academics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elwood

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Elwood.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Elwood was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Elwood has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Elwood was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elwood, please contact us.

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