[1] An early occurrence of this surname (of a personal residing near a wood) is de la Wode, recorded in Hertfordshire, England, in 1242.

[2] The locational name also appeared in early records Latinised as de Bosco[3] (from the Old French bois, meaning "wood").

[2] An early occurrence of the surname derived in this fashion (from a nickname) is le Wode, recorded in Worcestershire, England, in 1221.

The element "wood" occurs in a number of surnames often indicating a place of origin or an occupation: Woodard, Woodburn, Woodby, Woodcock, Woodforde, Woodham, Woodhouse, Woodly, Woodman, Woodruff, Woodson, Woodstock, Woodvine, Woodward, and Woodworth.

Other variations include; Blackwood, Eastwood, Greenwood, Inglewood, Hazelwood, Kirkwood, Leatherwood, Northwood, Redwood, Underwood, Westwood.