Explore the Family Name Sherwood
The meaning of Sherwood
1. English: habitational name from any of several places called with Old English scīr + wudu ‘bright or clear (perhaps sparsely-grown) wood’. In Yorkshire the name usually refers to Sherwood (Hall) in Eggborough (Yorkshire), but some examples could alternatively derive from Sherwood (House) in Stainforth (Yorkshire) or from the Nottinghamshire forest name in 2 below. The Devon name is from Sherwood (Green) in Yarnscombe (Devon). These are well evidenced as medieval placenames, and there may be similar but unrecorded places that could account for the medieval surname in other counties such as East Yorkshire, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, and Sussex. Sherwood occurs in minor placenames in Berkshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, North Yorkshire, Sussex, and Wiltshire, but they are recorded only in modern times and in many cases will have been named from the surname or perhaps in imitation of 2 below. This name was established in Ireland in the 17th century. See also Sherrard. 2. English: habitational name from Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire (‘the shire wood’). 3. Americanized form of some Jewish name.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sherwood in the United States?
The Sherwood surname was noted for its popularity in the Decennial U.S. Census. In the year 2000, it was ranked 1567 and by 2010, it had dropped to a rank of 1685, showing a decrease of 7.53%. However, the count of individuals with this surname increased from 20,998 in 2000 to 21,384 in 2010, indicating a growth rate of 1.84%. But when viewed as a proportion per 100,000 people, the frequency of this surname decreased by 6.81%, from 7.78 in 2000 to 7.25 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,567 | #1,685 | -7.53% |
| Count | 20,998 | 21,384 | 1.84% |
| Proportion per 100k | 7.78 | 7.25 | -6.81% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sherwood
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data showed variability among those bearing the Sherwood surname. In 2000, the largest ethnic identity was White at 92.29% which slightly decreased to 90.71% by 2010. The Hispanic representation rose from 2.23% to 3.06% during the same period, marking the highest change at 37.22%. The Black demographic also saw an increase from 2.61% to 2.94%. Asian/Pacific Islander representation slightly decreased by 7.94% while the number of people identifying as Two or more races grew by 25%. Lastly, the American Indian and Alaskan Native group saw a moderate increase, going up from 0.91% to 1.06%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.29% | 90.71% | -1.71% |
| Hispanic | 2.23% | 3.06% | 37.22% |
| Black | 2.61% | 2.94% | 12.64% |
| Two or More Races | 1.32% | 1.65% | 25% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.91% | 1.06% | 16.48% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.63% | 0.58% | -7.94% |
Sherwood ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Sherwood is British & Irish, which comprises 48.7% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (25.4%) and Scandinavian (5.0%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 48.7% |
| French & German | 25.4% |
| Scandinavian | 5.0% |
| Other | 20.9% |
Possible origins of the surname Sherwood
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Sherwood have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 86.50% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 86.50% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.40% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 86.00% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 86.00% |
What Sherwood haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Sherwood is R-Z8, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z8 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L48 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Wing, Tuck, Lyman, Taft, Cates, Call, Shivers, Mayo, Mayberry, Lovejoy.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Sherwood surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Sherwood have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Sherwood" Surname 43.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Sherwood" Surname 28.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Sherwood" Surname 24.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Sherwood" Surname 18.3%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Sherwood?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Sherwood are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition