Underwood is an English surname and given name, derived from Old English words 'under' meaning 'below' or 'beneath', and 'wudu' meaning 'wood'. It refers to someone who lived near the woods or was employed as a woodworker. The name has been associated with various notable individuals throughout history, including the American politician John Underwood (1830-1907) and the English poet and playwright Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1852-1917), who used 'Underwood' as his professional name for a time. The name has also been popularized by characters in literature, such as the protagonist of the 20th-century novel "The Underwoods" by John Updike and the title character of the television series "House of Cards".
The name Underwood had five instances of being given at birth each year in 1914, 1920, and 1922. Altogether, there were fifteen babies named Underwood during this period.