The surname of ATTWOOD was a locational name 'the dweller at the wood' from residence nearby. Local names usually denoted where a man held his land, and indicated where he actually lived. In the middle ages it was customary for a man to be named after the village where he held his land: this name identified his whole family and followed him wherever he moved. It could have been his place of birth, or the name of his land-holding. Early records of the name mention Geoffrey Ate Wode, 1273, County Huntingdonshire. John Attewode of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. George Attwood and Sarah Laurence, were married at St. Mary, Aldermary, London in the year 1726. An eminent member of the family name was Thomas Attwood (1765-1838) the English musician and composer, a pupil of Mozart. He was the organist of St. Paul's from 1796 until his death. Between the 11th and 15th centuries it became customary for surnames to be assumed in Europe, but were not commonplace in England or Scotland before the Norman Conquest of 1066. They are to be found in the Domesday Book of 1086. Those of gentler blood assumed surnames at this time, but it was not until the reign of Edward 11. ( 1307-1327 ) that second names became general practice for all people. When the coast of England was invaded by William The Conqueror in the year 1066, the Normans brought with them a store of French personal names, which soon, more or less, entirely replaced the traditional more varied Old English personal names, at least among the upper and middle classes. A century of so later, given names of the principal saints of the Christian church began to be used. It is from these two types of given name that the majority of the English patronymic surnames are derived and used to this day. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. |
ORDER BY NOVEMBER 30th FOR XMAS DELIVERY
VIEW OUR CREST GIFT ITEMS HEREPURCHASE AN EMAILED JPG PURCHASE A HISTORY & CREST 
|