Message: "surnames Delano and Woodward"

surnames Delano and Woodward

by Charles Scilingo (guest)

4/19/2004, 2:34 PM

Could anybody tell me the meaning of the surnames DELANO and Woodward.
Thamk you.

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- Obie (guest)

4/25/2004, 4:22 AM

'The American Genealogical Research Institute (AGRI) tells us that Woodward is an occupational name derived from the combination of "wood" with the Old English "weard," a guardian. The woodward (warden of the woods) was employed by estate owners to guard their private timber stands and game reserves. However, some researchers assert that "Woodward" is the anglicization of the Norman knight, Garde du Bois, "guardian of the wood." Further, the Norman Garde du Bois is an adaptation from the Norse "Videvarde." Norsemen settled in Normandy about the 8th c. AD. In England, some early variants of the name were Wadard, Wodeward (1272), and Woddeword (1379). AGRI says that the name Woodward is most abundant in the English counties of Worcestershire, Derbyshire, and Gloucestershire.' Taken from http://www.woodward-mattson.com/woodward_history.html

- C. Scilingo (guest) +4

4/21/2004, 9:47 AM

I think, but I am not sure, the surname Delano belongs to President's Roosevelt genealogy.
I have read that this is a surname of French origin.
In France it is possible to find Delanoe families.
Could i have some explanations about this surnames?

Thank you

- Obie (guest) +3

4/21/2004, 10:17 AM

It is definitely French. It comes from Delannoy, meaning 'from the city Lannoy'. A second origin: 'Il désigne un lieu planté d'aulnes', whatever that means :D

- Obie (guest)

4/25/2004, 4:08 AM

Sorry I'm so lazy. Il désigne un lieu planté d'aulnes is French for: 'It means a place where alder trees grow'.

- Scellea Horne (guest) +1

4/21/2004, 6:28 PM

Delano and Woodward

Definately Old French.

My baby name dictionary lists Delano as one of several meanings:

"night-time" (de la nuit)
"nut tree" (de la noix)

- Obie (guest)

4/25/2004, 3:24 AM

But why would you look in there for a surname? F.Delanor Roosevelt (FDR) added Delanor to his name because he didn't like his surname 'Roosevelt Jr.' (Delano was his mother's maiden name). It started to be used as a first name only later, as a direct result of FDR's popularity. Oh well, at least they didn't derive it from Italian 'del Ano'.

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