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

Underwood, 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 Underwood surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Underwood in America

Underwood is the 588th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Underwood surname appeared 57,064 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 19 people would have the surname Underwood.

We can also compare 2010 data for Underwood 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 Underwood

The surname Underwood originated in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words 'under' meaning 'under' or 'beneath' and 'wudu' meaning 'wood'. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or in a woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Underwood can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a Thomas de Underwude is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Richard de Undrewoode.

The Underwood surname has its roots in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. The name is also associated with places like Underwood in Nottinghamshire and Underwood in Derbyshire.

In terms of historical figures, one notable bearer of the surname was John Underwood (c. 1545-1624), an English bishop who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1617 until his death.

Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Underwood (c. 1609-1672), an English jurist and politician who served as a member of parliament and held the position of Recorder of Boston.

The name Underwood also has connections to the literary world. Thomas Underwood (1753-1828) was an English poet and writer, while John Underwood (1756-1835) was a playwright and author known for his satirical works.

Michael Underwood (1737-1828) was a notable English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in the city of Bath.

Thomas Redhead Underwood (1804-1835) was an English poet and journalist who contributed to various literary publications in the early 19th century.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Underwood has a rich history spanning centuries and can be traced back to its origins in medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Underwood

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

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 Underwood 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 Underwood 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 Underwood was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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