underwood

Underwood is a surname of English origin. It is a topographic name formed from the Old English elements under and wudu, describing someone who lived at the edge of or beneath a wood. The name spread with English settlement and immigration, and today it is found in many English-speaking countries. It is used as a family name across various regions and has been borne by writers, politicians, athletes, and entertainers.

Notable people with the surname include Carrie Underwood, an American singer and songwriter who rose to fame as a winner of American Idol and achieved international success. The name also appears in fiction, most prominently as Frank Underwood, a calculating U.S. president in the television series House of Cards, and in other literary and media works.

Underwood also refers to other uses, notably the Underwood Typewriter Company, a major American manufacturer of typewriters from the late 19th through mid-20th century. Its machines, including the widely used Underwood No. 5, played a central role in office work and publishing during that era. The name is also attached to geographic locations, with towns and communities in the United States and Canada bearing the name Underwood.