Underwood Family History

English and Scottish: topographic name for someone who lived near or in a wood, from Middle English under + wude, wode ‘wood', or a habitational name from any of various places so named, for example in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and the former county of Ayrshire (from Old English under + wudu).

FOREBEARS Joseph Underwood emigrated from England to Watertown, MA, in 1637. William Underwood came from England to Concord, MA, before 1640, later settling in Chelmsford, MA. In VA, the name was established by Thomas William Underwood, who came from Norfolk, England, in 1675.