Heywood is of Old English origin, derived from 'Heah' meaning 'noble' and 'wudu' signifying 'wood'. This unique name was once quite common in England during the Middle Ages but has since become rare. It is associated with the Heywood family, who were prominent in Lancashire, England. The name gained some prominence through the works of American playwright Arthur Miller, who named one of his characters Heywood Floyd in his renowned play 'Death of a Salesman'.
"The name Heywood experienced fluctuations in popularity with a peak of 15 births in 1925 and a total of 305 births over the period from 1912 to 1963."