Woodcraft

Woodcraft
this long-established surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational name either from Woodcroft, a hamlet north west of Peterborough in Northamptonshire, or from the village of Woodcraft near Chepstow in Gloucestershire. The former place, recorded as "Wudecraft" in the 1163 Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire, is so called from the Olde English pre 7th Century "wudu", wood, and "croft", a small piece of arable land adjacent to a house (worked by the occupier and his family), a piece of enclosed land used for tillage or pasture; hence, "croft in or by a wood". Woodcroft in Gloucestershire shares the same meaning and derivation. Locational surnames, such as this, were originally given to local landowners, and the lord of the manor, and especially as a means of identification to those who left their birthplace to settle elsewhere. On October 7th 1582, Thomas Woodcrafte and Margarett Cowell were married at St. Michael's, Cornhill, London, and in 1584, Geoffrey Woodcrofte, weaver, married Margaret Smith in London. The name is now spelt Woodcroft and Woodcraft, and recordings of same from Gloucestershire Church Registers include: the marriage of Mary Woodcroft to Will Webb at Tirley, on October 18th 1694, and the marriage of Catherine Woodcraft to Thomas Russell at Chipping Campden, on October 3rd 1720. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ascelinus de Wudecroft, which was dated 1162, in the "Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Woodcraft — Wood craft , n. Skill and practice in anything pertaining to the woods, especially in shooting, and other sports in the woods. [1913 Webster] Men of the glade and forest! leave Your woodcraft for the field of fight. Bryant. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • woodcraft — [wood′kraft΄] n. 1. matters relating to the woods, as camping, hunting, etc. 2. a) WOODWORKING b) WOODCARVING 3. skill in any of these …   English World dictionary

  • Woodcraft — Die Woodcraft Bewegung ist eine von Ernest Thompson Seton am Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts entwickelte Erziehungsbewegung, die auf dem Leben in Zeltlagern, Naturerlebnis und handwerklicher Betätigung basiert. In sein Konzept integrierte Seton… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Woodcraft — The term woodcraft denotes skills and experience in matters relating to living and thriving in the woods such as hunting, fishing, and camping whether on a short or long term basis. Traditionally, woodcraft pertains to subsistence lifestyles,… …   Wikipedia

  • Woodcraft (youth movement) — Woodcraft is a recreational/educational program devised by Ernest Thompson Seton in 1902, for young people based on camping, outdoor skills and woodcrafts. Thompson Seton s Woodcraft ideas were incorporated into the early Scout movement, but also …   Wikipedia

  • Woodcraft Folk — [Woodcraft Folk] a British organization for children and young people started in 1925 with groups around the country at which children take part in activities such as games, drama, ↑crafts, singing and dancing …   Useful english dictionary

  • Woodcraft Indians — The League of Woodcraft Indians was a youth program established by Ernest Thompson Seton. It was later renamed the Woodcraft League of America , and would also allow girls to join. The program was also picked up overseas, and many of these… …   Wikipedia

  • woodcraft — noun Date: 14th century 1. skill and practice in anything relating to the woods and especially in maintaining oneself and making one s way in the woods 2. skill in shaping or constructioncting articles from wood …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • woodcraft — /wood kraft , krahft /, n. 1. skill in anything that pertains to the woods or forest, esp. in making one s way through the woods or in hunting, trapping, etc. 2. forestry (defs. 1, 2). 3. the art of making or carving wooden objects. [1300 50; ME; …   Universalium

  • woodcraft — noun a) Any of the skills related to a woodland habitat, especially those relating to outdoor survival; these skills collectively b) The skill of woodcarving …   Wiktionary

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