Where does “woodward” come from?

woodward (English) comes from English ward, from Middle English ward, from Old English weard, from Old English ōra, from Old English ēar, from Proto-Germanic ahaz, from Proto-Finnic ahtas, from Proto-Baltic anśtas — to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...

woodward (English): A warden of a wood

Definitions

  1. A warden of a wood

Ancestry of “woodward”, step by step

woodward traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ward

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwardA warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman;...
2Middle Englishwardward, keeping
3Old Englishweardguard; guard, the action of looking out for...
4Old Englishōraore, unwrought metal
5Old Englishēarsea, ocean; grave, earth
6Proto-Germanicahazear
7Proto-Finnicahtasnarrow, cramped
8Proto-Balticanśtas
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énǵʰusnarrow, tight
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enǵʰ-to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...

via English wood

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwoodThe substance making up the central part of the...
2Middle Englishwodemadness, insanity, an overmastering emotion,...
3Old Englishwuduwood; forest, woods; tree
4Old Englishwiduwood, forest, grove; tree; timber
5Proto-Germanicwiduzwood
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwidʰu-forest, wood; tree, beam
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enǵʰ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énǵʰusEvery word from Proto-Baltic anśtas