Woodrow was originally an English surname which may originally derive from a place name meaning row of houses by a wood in Old English. Other sources suggest the family name is descriptive originating as Woodroe or the border hedge as the clan consisted primarily of border guards at the English, Welsh and Scottish borders. The name was made popular in part by US president Woodrow Wilson whose mother's maiden name was Woodrow.
The pet form of Woodrow is Woody. Famous bearers of this name include musician Woody Guthrie, the fictional characters Woody Woodpecker, Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) from the Toy Story movies, Woodrow Huckleberry Tiberius Woody Boyd played by Woody Harrelson, Woody Fink from The Suite Life On Deck, the American football coach Woody Hayes, and the film director and actor Woody Allen.