CALDERWOOD
Calderwood is a surname of Scottish origin, first appearing in the historical records of the British Isles in the early twelfth century. It derives from the Gaelic elements calder – meaning a rough or turbulent watercourse – and wood, referring to a forested area. The combined sense of the name therefore describes a dweller near a rough water stream within a woods.
The earliest extant document naming the surname is a charter of 1219 in which a Richard de Calderwode is recorded as a witness to the confirmation of lands at Cowdys‑hope and Jogilbie in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Other early witnesses include Isabele de Calrewode in 1296, John de Calderwode in 1456, Edward de Caldorwud in 1458, and Archibald Caldderwood in 1509. These entries trace the continuity of the name through the late Middle Ages and into the early modern period.
The Calderwood family was historically associated with the lordship and manor likewise named Calderwood in Lanarkshire. In 1566 the family settled at Dalkeith, where numerous members resided in the parish during the seventeenth century. A prominent scion, David Calderwood (1575‑1650), was born at Calkeith and is best remembered as the author of the History of the Kirk of Scotland, a work of considerable ecclesiastical significance.
Migration records show the surname entered the New World in the early eighteenth century. In 1724 James Calderwood first relocated to Londonderry, Ireland, and the following year travelled to New Hampshire in the United States of America. His emigration marks the earliest documented appearance of the name in America.
In contemporary times the surname remains most frequent in Scotland, particularly in Midlothian near the town of Scotlandwell, which is believed to have served as the ancestral home of the family from the early 1200s. According to a 2018 survey by the General Registry of Scotland, Calderwood is still one of the larger surnames in that area. The name is also found in Northern Ireland, chiefly within Antrim and Derry counties; the townland of Aughrim in Antrim contains a notable Calderwood presence that traces back to the sixteenth century. Smaller concentrations exist in Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United States, reflecting the wider spread of Scottish descendants during the twentieth century.
Several spelling variants have persisted over the centuries, some reflecting regional dialects or transcription practices. Traditional forms include Caldervood, Caldarlood, Caldwood, and Calderwode; less common variants such as caldurwood and caldwood are occasionally encountered in early parish registers. Related surnames sharing a common root include Caldwell, Colbert, Culburt, and Cotterell.
While there is no single heraldic device assigned to the Calderwood surname, many families with the name possess arms appropriate to their specific sub-branch of the lineage, reflecting the custom of heraldic differentiation among extended kin.
Presently, the Calderwood surname remains a significant element of Scottish heritage, most commonly recognised in the United Kingdom but acknowledged worldwide wherever Scottish ancestry has settled.
Typical given names associated with the Calderwood surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- David
- Gary
- Ian
- James
- John
- Peter
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Andrea
- Angela
- Catherine
- Celina
- Elizabeth
- Jacqueline
- Jean
- Karen
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Calderwood in...
Braille
⠉⠁⠇⠙⠑⠗⠺⠕⠕⠙
Morse
-.-..-.-..-....-..---------..
Semaphore
There are approximately 1,606 people named Calderwood in the UK. That makes it roughly the 5,064th most common surname in Britain. Around 25 in a million people in Britain are named Calderwood.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Calderwood
- Joanne Calderwood - Scottish mixed martial artist and muay thai fighter
- Colin Calderwood - Scottish football player
- Jimmy Calderwood - Scottish football player and manager
- Mark Calderwood - Rugby league football player
- Scott Calderwood - Scottish football player
- Chic Calderwood - Boxer (1937 to 1966)
- James Calderwood - Football player (1898 to 1)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.