Surname Woodlee - Meaning and Origin

Woodlee: What does the surname Woodlee mean?

The origin of the surname Woodlee is unknown, however, many believe that it is of Anglo-Saxon origin. Records show that the name was most likely first used in British Isles during the Middle Ages. It is believed that the name became popularized as the result of its frequent appearances in official documents. The name is likely derived from two Old English elements: “wudu” meaning woods, and “leah”, meaning a clearing. This suggests that the Woodlee surname was originally held by someone who lived in or near a wooded area.

There are various spellings of Woodlee, with some of the other common variants being Woodly, Woodlye, Wodley, and Wodlye. The surname is found in many countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, and South Africa.

The Woodlee surname has been adopted by people of diverse backgrounds, professions and talents. Its bearers have had various occupations and interests, with many entering politics, education, the clergy, military, science, business, and the arts.

Overall, the Woodlee surname provides insight into a person’s familial and cultural heritage. It is a reminder of an ancestral connection with a wooded area, the original home of the bearers of the name.

Woodlee: Where does the name Woodlee come from?

The last name Woodlee is most often found in the United States today. Records indicate that the name first appeared in the mid 1600s in Colonial Virginia and spread throughout Southern and Mid Atlantic regions of the United States. From here, it began to filter into other parts of the United States, primarily in the South and Midwest.

Today, the last name Woodlee is most commonly associated with the states of North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, all of which were very prominent in early U.S. settlement. In fact, the highest concentrations of Woodlees can still be found in those respective states today.

Outside of the U.S. there are also pockets of Woodlees in Canada and across Europe. In the latter, members of the family migrated across the continent over the centuries, with records in England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands and other countries. Much like the U.S., the highest densities of Woodlees can be found in the countries where the family initially settled.

In every case, the Woodlees have established deep family roots in the respective areas, evidenced by centuries of recorded family history, including marriages, births and deaths.

Variations of the surname Woodlee

The Woodlee surname has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common of these is Woodley, as English surnames often change spelling with time as pronunciation and spelling conventions change. Woodlee, Woodley, Woodly and Woodlie are all variations on the same surname.

Wood is a common English first name and Woodlee could also be derived from it. Some people with the Woodlee surname may have descended from someone with the nickname Wood, such as a carpenter, woodsman, or someone with a wood-related job.

The surname Woodlee may also have evolved from the Old English word “wooda” which means woods, or a wooded area. This could indicate that the surname was derived from the place where someone lived, rather than from a first name. Other variations on this surname include Wooley, Woolley, Woodleigh, Woodloft, Woolie, and Woodleye.

It is not uncommon for variations of the same surname to appear over time. For example, the Woodlee variant may have become established as a distinct variant when people moved and began to use an alternative spelling or phonetic pronunciation of the name. Different members of the same family might also have different versions of the same name. As the years pass, many of these variants become forgotten and the main version of the surname becomes the generally accepted spelling.

Famous people with the name Woodlee

• Mary Woodlee: a popular California-based singer/songwriter who has opened for many of the major talents in the music industry.
• Anna Woodlee: a critically-acclaimed Broadway actor and singer who was featured in several popular shows including Evita and The Phantom of the Opera.
• Andrew Woodlee: an award-winning novelist and poet from Louisiana who has published several of his works.
• Bobby Woodlee: an Emmy award-winning director and producer who has worked on many popular television shows.
• Dr. John Woodlee: an innovator in the field of organic chemistry and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
• Maureen Woodlee: a highly decorated military veteran and government official.
• Mike Woodlee: a professional football running back who currently plays for the New York Giants.
• Nathan Woodlee: one of Hollywood's leading set designers, who has worked on films such as Super 8 and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
• Dr. Paul Woodlee: a renowned speech pathologist and professor at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
• Ryan Woodlee: a successful businessman and entrepreneur who has developed several successful start-up companies.

Other surnames

WoodlandWoodleWoodleyWoodlingWoodlockWoodly