Welcome to the Wood Family page at Surname Finder, a service of Genealogy Today. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with user-contributed information and web sites for the Wood surname. As additional sources for vital records, original documents, vintage photographs and surname-based DNA projects are discovered, this page is updated to offer the best list for researching Wood ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
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The Wood Family Tree
It is quite possible that someone else has already performed work on a Wood family tree, so be sure to examine some of the sources listed below carefully. Have you struck a Wood brick wall? Read "Soundex Sorts Out Family Names" for some helpful advice.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Wood Ancestors
Wood Genealogy
Many things can go wrong when a record collection is indexed. If you're having diffculty finding Wood ancestors in a particular database at one site, try finding it on another and compare the results. If you want to know When were Wood births first recorded in the United States?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Wood
Historical newspapers give us the ability to discover ancestral history through eyewitness accounts.
There are currently matching Wood records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Wood family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Wood Surname
It is quite possible for two people with the Wood last name to have been given that surname for entirely different reasons. Discovering the country from which your Wood ancestors originated can often yield additional clues for the meaning of the surname. Were you aware that Wood is considered a very common surname, which offers its own set of challenges? The article "Researching Common Names" may be helpful for your research. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Wood DNA Projects
Don't believe the hype! When DNA testing was first made available for genealogical purposes, some companies boasted how it could solve all your Wood family tree mysteries. DNA testing can be a useful tool, when applied properly to a given research issue. If you're not sure how DNA testing could aid your Wood research, read "Using DNA to Find Your Surname".
Wood Family History
Every family has a different history, and every document you discover about your Wood ancestors will help paint a picture that can be shared with your relatives. Whether you are a beginner or expert genealogists, knowing How do I find my Wood family history on the Internet? is always useful.
Photo Collections
Networking with Wood Researchers
In the course of genealogy research, collaboration is key -- we really cannot do it alone, and one of the great benefits of participating in community message boards is building relationships that not only enlightens our research but strengthens bonds across the miles. The article "Looking for John Smith - Focusing a Query" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Wood queries.
You may also want to consider posting a query to the Community Message Boards at Genealogy Today to get assistance from other researchers on your most elusive Wood ancestors.
Wood Achievements & Celebrities
Did you know that Wood was the 78th most popular surname in the 1990 census of the United States?
Web Sites & Blogs with Wood Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Wood, contact the folks at ProGenealogists for a free research estimate. You may also find it helpful to read, "When, Why and How to Hire a Professional Genealogist."
RootsWeb search of US Naturalization Records
RootsWeb search of Obituary Daily Times
RootsWeb search of Social Security Death Index
To recommend your web site/blog for inclusion on this page, please submit a link to the user-contributed directory at Genealogy Today. Your web page may appear once its content has been reviewed by our editors.
Upcoming Wood Family Reunions
One key to a successful Wood reunion is preparation, and for the family researcher that means getting the word out in advance on what to bring (such as the family photo collection); arranging for the display of shared information; and planning activities conducive to sharing; and one of the best ways to get others to participate is in bringing something of your own to share such a picture pedigree, compiled family history or biographical sketch, or even a copies of a treasured photo as a gift for each family -- you may even want to consider putting together a reunion newsletter in advance to be distributed at the reunion, asking for help in solving one or more specific family mysteries: you never know who might have insight they are willing to share, one-on-one. The article "Family Reunions Don't Always Turn Out as one has Pictured" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Wood reunion.
See Also
Woot Woott Woud Wud Woode Wooda Woodi Woodo Woodu Woody Woo McWood Van
Surname Finder, The Wood Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.