Tudor

Borrowed from Welsh Tudur (“Theodoric”), from Proto-Celtic *Toutorīxs, later adopted as the surname of a British royal family. Piecewise doublet of Theodoric, Theoderic, Terry, and Derek.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtjuːdə/

• Audio (Southern England):

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈtuːdəɹ/
• Rhymes: -uːdə(ɹ)

Tudor (plural Tudors)

1. A monarch of the English royal family during the sixteenth century, specifically, King Henry VII and Henry VIII or one of his three children who ascended the throne.
2. Anyone who lived in the Tudor era of England.
   • 2016 May 19, Tracy Borman, The Private Lives of the Tudors: Uncovering the Secrets of Britain's Greatest Dynasty, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

     The Tudors ate far more meat than we do today, and the king ate more than most.

   • 2023 September 30, Bethan Watts, Inside the Tudor Home: Daily Life in the Sixteenth Century, Pen and Sword History, →ISBN, page 79:

     The Tudors mostly made theirs with whatever homegrown vegetables they could grow themselves, from lettuces and cucumbers, to onions and even plant and flower seeds.

3. (uncountable) A style of dress popular in Britain during the sixteenth century.

Tudor (comparative more Tudor, superlative most Tudor)

1. Pertaining to the English monarchs of the sixteenth century.
2. Pertaining to the period of English history ruled by King Henry VII, Henry VIII and the children of Henry VIII.
3. (architecture) In the style of English buildings of the sixteenth century; using exposed wooden beams on the exterior.
   • 2015, Paul Beatty, The Sellout, Oneworld Publications (2016), page 247:

     A massive Tudor estate with a circular driveway, it looked more like an English finishing school than a home.

Probably a variant of Teodor, ultimately from Ancient Greek Θεόδωρος (Theódōros). Compare also Toader, Sântoader.

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Tudor

1. a male given name in Romania, and occasionally also a surname, equivalent to English Theodore