Hood Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Hood Surname Name Meaning, Origin, History, & Etymology
This is an English and Scottish metonymic occupational name, Anglo-Saxon in origin, for a person who either made hoods (or head-dresses) for a living or who wore distinctive hoods.  It’s also possible the name was originally a topographic one, referring to a person who lived near a hood-shaped hill or a natural overhang/shelter, from placed named Hood in Rattery, Devon and North Yorkshire. The word derives from the Middle English hodde, hood, or hud, meaning “hood”.  Another source, Henry Barber, in his book British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning, states the name derives from the following personal names: Udi (Old Norse), Udo/Ude (Frisian), Hude (Danish), Hudy (German), or Ouda (Dutch).

Yet another author, Richard Stephen Charnock, in his book Ludus Patroymicus, states the name is a corruption of the popular surname Wood, as does Bernard Homer Dixon in his 1857 book Surnames. The later author also states it may derives from the personal name Odo. A third author, William Arthur, also supports this theory by saying Hood is a Saxon name deriving from the word houdt, meaning wood.

In some cases, it can be an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hUid, meaning “descendant of Ud”, with Ud being an old personal (first) name of unknown origin. One source states Huda was an Old English shortened personal name. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles made mention of a leader of men in Surrey in 853 named Huda. One author, Elsdon Coles Smith, asserts the masculine given name Hud or Hood is a pet form (nickname) of Richard (An ancient medieval Germanic name meaning powerful or brave ruler, that made its way into England by way of the Norman Invasion of 1066 AD). The name was borne by an Ulster family that were bards of the O’Neills of Clandeboy, with the name being changed to Mac hUid, and possible comparable to Mahood or MacHood.

Spelling Variations
Some spelling variants or names with similar etymologies include Hoode, Hoody, Hodder, Hud, Hude, Hode, Hudd, Hoods, and others.

Popularity & Geographic Distribution
The last name Hood ranks 566^th in popularity in the United Status as of the 2000 Census. The name ranks particularly high in the following six states: Mississippi (230^th), Alabama (240^th), South Carolina (324^th), Oklahoma (346^th), Arkansas (340^th), and Tennessee (348^th).

The surname Hood frequency/commonness ranks as follows in the British Isles: England (666^th), Scotland (381^st), Wales (742^nd), Ireland (3,314^th) and Northern Ireland (928^th). In England, it ranks highest in county Durham. In Scotland, the surname ranks highest in counties Ayrshire, East Lothian, Berwickshire, and Moray. In Wales, it ranks highest in Montgomeryshire. In Ireland, it ranks highest in county Sligo. In Northern Ireland, it ranks highest in county Tyrone.

The name is also present throughout the remainder English speaking world:  Canada (1,200^th), New Zealand (597^th), Australia (640^th), and South Africa (3,008^th).

Early Bearers of the Surname
Robert Hude or Hod was recorded in Scotland (near the manor of Lamanbrid?) in 1225 AD. Robertus Hud of Leth was documented in an Inchcolm in around 1225 AD. A Robertus Hod was recorded in Aberdeen in 1264 AD. Johannes Hode was a burgess of the village of Foray in 1332 AD. A one Davide Hude or Huyd was Vicar of Luntrath from 1447-1452 AD. John Hude was Vicar of Abernyte and Michael Hud was a tenant on the lands of Abbey Kelso in 1567. The Poll Tax Yorkshire, England, of 1379 AD, lists three bearers: Matilda Hud-doghter, Emma Hud-wyf, and Johannes Hudson. A one John Hod was documented in county Somerset, England, in the year 1328 in Kirby’s Quest.

Hood Family Tree & Hood Genealogy
The following is a discussion of several different noble, royal, landed, or aristocratic families bearing this last name.

Hood of Nettleham Hall
The lineage or ancestry of this branch of the Hood family tree traces back to John Hood, who in the year 1660 AD, came alongside General Monk from Scotland, while on his way to restore Charles II as King. Hood eventually settled in county, York, England. A one John Hood of Craike, York married a daughter of Francis Radclyffe, 1^st Earl of Derwentwater, and had a son named John. The son, John Hood of Craike, married Mary, daughter of W. Theakstone, and had a son with her, also named John. This son, John Hood of Kirkbridge, married Elizabeth, daughter of William Wright of Baldsraby, and they had a son, also named John and William. His son, John Hood, married a daughter of the Fawddington, but died without issue. The other son, William, of Kirkbridge, county York, was Lord of the Manor of West Firsby, who in 1787, married Grace, daughter of Francis Firby Fothergill of Aiskew House, and had the following issue with her: John (his heir), Elizabeth (married Captain J.A. Moore of the Royal Navy), and Grace (married William Danby of Lincoln). He died in 1845 and was succeeded by his son John. This John Hood was an Esquire of Nettleham Hall, county Lincoln and Yafforth House, county York, as well as Deputy Lieutenant and Lord of the Manor of West Firsby, was born in 1788. In 1818, he married Anne Smith, daughter of Ralph Robb of Stirling, and had issue with her as follows: 1) John Leadley, 2) Reverend William Frankland (married Elizabeth Sinclair, had children named Sinclair Frankland, Francis Fothergill, and Grace Florence), 3) Franics Fotherhill (Lieutenant of the 64^th Regiment, died at Malaga), 4) Charles Ralph (of Togher House, county Mayo, Ireland, married Sophia Odell, had issue named John, Robert, Charles, and William), 5) Grace Sophia (married Reverend Charles Dale Butterfield), 6) Mary Elizabeth (married Reverend R.J. Simpson), 7) Elizabeth (married Reverend Watkin Homfray of West Retford), 8) Anne Maria, 9) Margaret (married Reverend Kettlewell), and 10) Helen. He died and was succeeded by his grandson. Sinclair Frankland Hood was an Esquire of Nettleham Hall, county Lincoln, England who was born in 1851. He was a Justice of the Peace and the Lord of the Manor of West Firsby. In 1876, he married Grace Elinor, daughter of Reverend C. Trollope Swan. The Hood family crest for this branch of the family is blazoned in the medieval art of heraldry as follows: Azure, a fret argent, on a chief sable three crescents or. Crest: A hooded crow, in its beak a Scotch thistle; in its dexter claw a sword. Motto: Esse quam videri. They were seated at Nettleham Hall, county Lincoln, England (present day United Kingdom, once called Great Britain).

The Viscount Hood
Reverend Samuel Hood, son of Alexander Hood of Mosterton, county Dorset, was Vicar of Butleigh in Somersetshire and later Thorncombe, and he married Mary, daughter of Richard Hoskyns of Beaminster, and had three issue with her: Samuel, Alexander (created Viscount Bridport), and Elizabeth (married Alderman Edward Walker of Exeter). The elder son, Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, 1^st Viscount Hood, was a famous British seaman born in Thorncombe in 1724. His first victory was the taking of the Bellona in 1759, for which he received command of the Africa. He also helped defeat Count de’ Grasse’s fleet. He had a victorious attack of Toulon and he also captured the island of Corscia.  He was created a Baronet in 1778, Baron Hood of Catherington in the peerage of Ireland in 1782, and Viscount Hood of Whitley in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1796. In 1749, he married Susannah, daughter of Edward Linzee of Portsmouth. She was later elevated to the peerage as Baroness Hood. He had one son named Henry. Henry, 2^nd Viscount Hood, was born in 1753 and succeeded his father in 1816. In 1774, he married the daughter and heir of Francis Wheler of Whitley, and had the following issue with her: 1) Francis Wheler (Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, married Caroline Hamond and was killed in action on the heights of Aire, in France, had issue named Samuel, the 3^rd Viscount, Francis Grosvenor, and Caroline), 2) Samuel (2^nd Baron Bridport in the peerage of Ireland). He died in 1836 and was succeeded by his grandson, Samuel, 3^rd Viscount Hood, who was born in 1808. In 1837, Mary Isabella, daughter and heiress of Richard John Tibbits, of Barton Seagrave, and had other issue: 1) Francis Wheler (4^th Viscount), 2) Albert (Lieutenant Rifle Brigade, married Julia Jane Hornby, had issue named Samuel, Albert Oscar, Edward, and others), 3) Alexander Frederick Gregory (of Styvechale, Coventry, Justice of the Peace, formerly of the Royal Navy and of the 15^th Hussars). Francis Wheeler, 4^th Viscount Hood, was born in 1838 and he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Grenadier Guards, as well as Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant who was born in 1838. In 1865, he married Edith Lydia Drummond, daughter of Arthur W. Ward of Calverley, and had the following issue with her: 1) Grosvenor Arthur Frederick, 2) Grosvenor Arthur Alexander (5^th Viscount), 2) Horace Lambert Alexander (served in Royal navy as a Liuetenant, Commander, Captain, and Rear Admiral, served in World War I in Samliland, married Ellen Nickerson of Massachusetts, USA, had issue named Samuel, the 6^th Viscount, and Alexander Lambert who served in WW2), 4) Neville Albert (Lieutenant Colonel who served in South Africa, World War I, and World War II, married Eveline Mary Broad of Tresilian, had issue named Peter Neville, Edith Rosemary, Eveline Suzanne, Catherine Mary, and Francis George), 5) Mabel Edith (married the 5^th Baron Ashburton, had issue), 6) Alma Margarite, and 7) Dorothy Violet. He died in 1907 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Grosvenor Arthur Alexander (5^th Viscount Hood), who was a Lieutenant Colonel of the 7^th Bn. London Regiment who served in Ashanti and South Africa.  He married twice and passed away in 1933, when he was succeeded by his nephew. Sir Samuel Hood, Viscount Hood, of Whitley, county Warwick, England, Baron Hood, of Catherington, Hants, and a Baronet in England, was born in 1910. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College Cambridge and was the Assistant Private Secretary to Secretary of State for India.  He was also a member of the UK Delegation at Meetings of Council of Foreign Ministers in London, Paris, New York, and Moscow from 1945-1947. He was also at the Paris Peace Conference in 1946 and the Austrian Treaty in 1947. The Hood Coat of Arms for this branch of the family is blazoned as follows: Azure, a fret argent, on a chief or, three crescents sable. Crest: A Cornish chough proper, resting the dexter claw on the fluke of an anchor placed in bend sinister or. Supporters: Dexter, a merman, in his exterior hand a trident; sinister, a mermaid, in her exterior hand a mirror, all proper. Motto: Ventis secundis. This family resided at the British Embassy, Madrid.

Baronet Hood
The lineage of this branch of the family traces back to John Hood of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, He had a son also named John, who was born in 1839. In 1861, this son married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Hood, and had issue with her including: Sir Joseph (created a Baronet), William (married Jane Munton, had issue named John William, Elizabeth Jane, and Gladys). The elder son, Sir Joseph Hood, 1^st Baronet, was born in 1863. He was a Justice of the Peace and Member of Parliament for Wimbledon from 1918-1924, as well as Mayor of Wimbledon in 1930. He held numerous other positions. In 1900, he married Katherine, daughter of Martin Kenny of Ballindaggin, county Wexford, Ireland, and had the following issue with her: 1) Winifred Edith (married Basil Raymond Worthington), 2) Norah Mary (married Major James Hargreaves Turner), and 3) Kathleen Muriel (married Thomas Percival Durant Beighton and later Jessel Anidjar Romain). In 1915, he married his second wife, Marie Josephine, daughter of Archibald Robinson, Justice of the Peace of Dublin, Ireland, and had three issue with her: 1) Harold Joseph (2^nd Baronet), 2) Alan Edward (born 1920, was heir presumptive), and 3) Robin Adrian. He died in 1931 and was succeeded by his son. Sir Harold Joseph Hood, 2^nd Baronet, of Wimbledon, county Surrey, England was born in 1916 and educated at Downside. He went on to become a Lieutenant in the Royal Airforce and served in World War II. In 1946, he married Ferelith Rosemary Florence Kenworthy, daughter of 10^th Baron Strabolgi. The Hood coat of arms is blazoned in the medieval art of heraldry as follows: Argent, on a mount vert, an oak tree fructed proper, a chief sable, thereon a bow stringer also proper. Crest: A demi-stag proper, resting the sinister foot on a fret or: Through. This family resided at Cromwell Mansions on Cromwell Road.

Other Hood Pedigree & Family Trees
John Hoode was born in 1495 AD. He had a son named John. This son, John Hoode, was born in South Perrott, county Dorset, England in 1515. He married Alice and had issue named: Alexander, Joanna, and John. His son Alexander Hood was born in the same town in 1540. He married Joan and had a son named John. This son, John Hood, was born in Mosterton, Doreset in 1577. He married Margaret Wills and had the following issue with her: John, Honor, Richard, Tremor, Alexander, John, and Joane.

Thomas Hood I (or Tremor Hood, mentioned above?) was born in South Perrott, Dorset, England in 1612. He married a woman named Jane and had three children with her: John, Richard, and Tremor II. His son John was born in Mosterton, England in 1647. He had a son named Robert. Robert Hood was born in the same town in 1674. He married Phyllis Thomas and had a son with her named Tremor. Tremor was born in England around 1700. In 1728, he married Elizabeth in Broadwinsor, England. He had two children: Henry and John Sr. He went to colonial America. His son, John Hood Sr., was born in Wilkes, North Carolina in 1731. He married Violetta Chapman, and had the following issue with her: Nathaniel Edmond, Thomas, Robert Sr., William W., Violet, Richard, Enoch, Travis, and John Jr. Five of these sons and their children as discussed below:
1) Nathaniel Edmond Hood was born in Fairfield, South Carolina in 1758. He married Elizabeth Bullard, and had the following children: Simeon Maxey, Anderson, Zachariah Lumpkin, and Nathaniel Bullard.
2) Thomas Hood was born in Halifax, Virginia in 1758. He married Sarah Morgan and had two children with her: Thomas N. and Nipper.
3) Robert Hood Sr. was born in Burke, North Carolina in 1774. He married Judith Corbin and had the following issue with her: James, Sarah (Bruce), William, John, Samuel, Robert Jr., Jesse Samuel, Peter Corbin, and Malinda (Nix).
4) William W. Hood was born in Burke, North Carolina in 1774. He married Winnifred Elizabeth (Reid) and had two sons with her: William Hood and Stephen
5) Enoch Hood was born in Burke, North Carolina in 1784. He married Mildred Smith and had the following issue with her: William Jackson, James Robinson, and Earl A.

Samuel Hood, the son of Robert Sr., was born in Pendleton, Anderson, South Carolina in 1813. He married Laura Ellenor Patterson and had the following children with her: Lemuel Samuel, John Edley, Anna (Brock), Dred Patterson, Ezekiel, Samuel Tate, Aster Australia (Bradley), Susan Melissa (Henderson), Patsy Margaret (Tripp), and Sarah Cecilia (Akin). His son, John Edley Hood, was born in Gilmer County, Georgia in around 1840. He married Mary Anna R. Hall. He served as a Confederate Private of the George Infantry, Company K, 21^st Regiment. He was killed in battle in Guinea Station, Virginia. He had a son named Miles. Miles Samuel Hood was born in Jasper, Pickens, Georgia in 1863. He married three times: Nancy Catherine Wilson, Nancy Moreland, and Martha Ellen Willoughby. He had numerous children: Sophia Cordelia, Lillie Mae (Garrison), John William, Rosa Ann (Hudson), Mattie Lee (McInnerny), Rosco, Velma Faye (Wiggins), Floyd Herbert, and Arthur McKinley. His son, John William Hood, was born in Tennessee in 1885. He married Rachel Ann Kuykendall and had three issue: Aubrey Lee Sr., Reginald, and Paul Rubin. His son Reginald “Rags” Hood was born in Ellis County, Texas in 1908. He had numerous children including Lonnie Marshall Hood and James Douglas Hood. He died in Dallas, Texas in 1969. His son James Douglas “JD” was born in Dallas in 1938. He had issue including a daughter named Michelle Denise.

Early American and New World Settlers
The book Genealogical Guide to the Early Settlers, mentions one bearers of this last name:
1) John Hood of Lynn in 1650, of Kittery in 1652, a weaver by trade, who had a wife named Elizabeth. He was in England in 1653. It is thought that he had two children, at least.
2) Richard Hood of Lynn in 1650, came from Lynn, Regis, county Norfolk, England, had issue named Richard (1655), Sarah (1657), Rebecca (1663), John (1664), Hannah (1665), and Samuel (1667), Ann (1673), Joseph (1674), and Benjamin (1678). He was a freeman in 1691. He died in 1695.

Other settlers in colonial America bearing this surname include: Ralph Hood(e) (Virginia 1621), Jeremiah Hood (Massachusetts 1676), Thomas Hood (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1682), David Hood (New England 1723), Elizabeth Hood (South Carolina 1772), and Joan Hood (South Carolina 1772).

In Canada, one of the first settlers bearing this last name was John Hood, who came in 1820. In 1833, Ann Jane Hood, ten years old, came to Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the Billow. In 1834, Thomas Hood, a labor aged 26 years old, came to the same city aboard the Edwin from Dublin, Ireland. In Australia, two of the earliest settlers, who came around the year 1830, were John Hood and Robin V. Hood, a coachmaker and carpenter, respectively. The former came to New South Wales. The latter came to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). In 1850, several members of the Hood family arrived in the city of Adelaide aboard the Sultana, including Joseph Hood and Martha Hood. In New Zealand, Augustus Hood, a smith by trade aged 20, came to Port Nicholson aboard the Slains Castle in the year 1841. In the following year, Robert Hood came to the city of Wellington. In 1842, Arthur (22 years old) and Janet Hood (18 years old) arrived in the city of Auckland aboard the Jane Gifford.

Early Americans Bearing the Hood Family Crest
Charles Bolton’s American Armory (1927), Matthew’s American Armoury and Bluebook (1907), and Crozier’s General Armory (1904) do not contain entries for this last name.

Mottoes
I have identified nine Hood family mottoes:
1) Esse quam videri (To be rather than seem to be)
2) Ventis secundis (By favorable winds)
3) Olim sic erat (Thus is was formerly)
4) At spes infracta (Yet my hope is unbroken)
5) Manners maketh man
6) Zealous
7) Steady
8) Swift and sure
9) Sherwoode

Notables
There are hundreds of notable people with the Hood surname. This page will mention a handful. Famous people with this last name include: 1) Admiral Arthur William Acland Hood, 1^st Baron Hood of Avalon (1824-1901) who was an officer in the Royal Navy born in Bath, Somerset, the son of Sir Alexander, 2^nd B   aronet, who fought of Oriental Crisis, Crimean War, and Second Opium War, 2) James Matthew Hood (1962) who was the 39^th Attorney General of Mississippi who assumed office in 2004, 3) Samuel Hood, 2^nd Baton Bridport (1788-1868) who was a Tory Member of Parliament for Heytesbury who succeeded his great-uncle Alexander Hood, 1^st Viscount Bridport as Baron Bridport, 4) Rear Admiral Sir Horace Lambert Alexander Hood (1870-1916) who was a British Royal Navy admiral during World War I who was born in London, 5) John Hood (1859-1919) who was a rear Admiral in the United States Navy, born in Florence, Alabama, who fought in the Spanish-American War and the First World War, 6) John Bell Hood (1831-1879) who was a Confederate General during the American Civil War who was born in Owingsville, Kentucky, known for his bravery and aggression who fought in numerous battles including the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, and the Battle of Gettysburg, 7) Captain George Hood (1891-1928) who was born in Masterton, Wairarapa, New Zealand who was a pioneer in aviation who died attempting to fly across the Tasman Sea, 8) Marjorie Hood who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1943, 9) Enoch “Tubby” Hood (1861-1940) who was a English football (soccer) player born in Middleport, Staffordshire, who plated for Burslem Port Vale from 1876 to 1896, and 10) Martin Sinclair Frankland Hood (1917) who was an archaeologist and academic who led excavations at Knossos from 1957-1961 and was also Direction of the British School of Archaeology at Athens from 1954 to 1962, born in Queenstown, Ireland.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Fuller-Acland-Hood, Ban., St. Audries, Somerset). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. a fret ar. on a chief sa. three crescents or, for Hood, 2nd, chequy ar. and sa. a fesse gu., for Acland, 3rd, ar. three bars and a canton gu., for Fuller; 2nd, Hood; 3rd, Periam, gu. a chev. engr. betw. three leopards’ faces or. Crests— 1st, Hood: A Cornish chough holding an anchor on the dexter side in bend sinister ppr.; 2nd, Acland: A man’s band couped at the wrist in a glove lying fessewise, thereon a falcon perched all ppr. Motto—Zealous.
2) (Viscount Hood). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, erminois three cats-a-mountain pass. guard. in pale az. each charged on the body with an erm. spot or, for Tibbets; 2nd and 3rd, az. a fret ar. on a chief or, three crescents sa., for Hood. Crests— 1st, Tibbets: A demi cat-a-mountain guard, az. gorged with a collar gemel, and charged on the body with three erm. spots, two and one or; 2nd, Hood: A Cornish chough sa. in front of an anchor in bend sinister or. Supporters—Dexter, a merman, in his exterior hand a trident; sinister, a mermaid, in her exterior hand a mirror all ppr. Motto—Ventis secundis.
3) (Viscount Bridport). Az. a fret ar. on a chief or, three crescents sa. Crest—A Cornish chongh ppr. supporting with the dexter claw an anchor or. Supporters—Dexter, Neptune ppr. mantled vert, supporting with the left arm a trident, and resting the right upon an anchor or; sinister, a sea-lion ar. supporting with the sinister paw an anchor or. Motto—Steady.
4) (Tidlake, co. Surrey, since of Wootton, co. Somerset, bart.). Az. a fret ar. on a chief sa. three crescents or. Crest—A Cornish chough holding an anchor on the dexter side in bend sinister ppr. Motto—Zealous.
5) (Cockburn-Hood, Stoneridge, co. Berwick). Quarterly sa. and ar. a bend or, on a chief of the second a lion’s head erased betw. two cocks gu. Crest—A demi archer, clothed and accoutred ppr. Mottoes—Over the crest: Swift and sure; below the arms: Olim sic erat.
6) (Nettleham Hall, co. Lincoln). Az. a fret ar. on a chief sa. three crescents or. Crest—A hooded crow, in the beak a Scotch thistle, in the dexter claw a sword all ppr. Motto—Esse quam videri.
7) or Hoods (Rector of Lincoln College, co. Oxford, of Ickford, near Brille, co. Buckingham, d. 3 Aug. 1668). Az. a fret ar. on a chief sa. three crescents or. Crest—A Cornish chough sa. beaked and membered gu.
8) (Bardon Park, co. Leicester; originally settled at Wilford, near Nottingham). Az. a fret ar. on a chief sa. three crescents or, quartering Snell, Harrison, Fiennes, &c. Crest—A demi talbot ppr. collared and lined or. Motto—Manners maketh man.
9) Chequy or and gu. a canton sa.