NameCensus.

UK surname

Cawood

A locational surname derived from a place called Cawood in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 712 people recorded with the Cawood surname, ranking it #5,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 878, ranked #6,413, down from #5,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Otley, Leeds and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Bradford and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cawood is 954 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.3%.

1881 census count

712

Ranked #5,107

Modern count

878

2016, ranked #6,413

Peak year

1911

954 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cawood had 712 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 878 in 2016, ranked #6,413.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 954 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Cawood surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cawood surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cawood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cawood over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 521 #4,814
1861 historical 555 #4,747
1881 historical 712 #5,107
1891 historical 757 #5,265
1901 historical 890 #5,185
1911 historical 954 #4,725
1997 modern 853 #6,225
1998 modern 874 #6,298
1999 modern 902 #6,192
2000 modern 886 #6,243
2001 modern 867 #6,237
2002 modern 890 #6,233
2003 modern 869 #6,237
2004 modern 856 #6,315
2005 modern 835 #6,383
2006 modern 827 #6,448
2007 modern 852 #6,361
2008 modern 866 #6,318
2009 modern 886 #6,341
2010 modern 920 #6,280
2011 modern 887 #6,382
2012 modern 890 #6,294
2013 modern 906 #6,319
2014 modern 895 #6,399
2015 modern 870 #6,479
2016 modern 878 #6,413

Geography

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Where Cawoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Otley, Leeds, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles, Scarborough and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Bradford, East Riding of Yorkshire and Ryedale. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Otley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
3 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Bradford 002 Bradford
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 028 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 032 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Ryedale 008 Ryedale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cawood

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cawood surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cawood

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cawood, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Cawood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cawood household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cawood is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cawood is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cawood falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cawood is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cawood, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cawood

The surname Cawood has its origins in England, where it can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from a place name, referring to the village of Cawood in North Yorkshire. The name Cawood itself is thought to have originated from the Old English words "ca" meaning jackdaw and "wudu" meaning wood, likely describing the area as a woodland frequented by jackdaws.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cawood can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a Thomas de Cawode in Yorkshire. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners compiled in 1086 under the order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the name Cawood or its variants.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which listed a John de Cawode. The name's spelling had several variations during this period, such as Cawoode, Kawode, and Cawod.

In the 16th century, the name Cawood gained prominence with individuals like John Cawood (c.1500-1572), who served as a printer and publisher in London. He held the prestigious position of King's Printer during the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.

Another notable individual with this surname was Thomas Cawood (c.1557-1623), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, from 1616 until his death in 1623.

In the 17th century, the name Cawood appeared in various parish records and legal documents. One example is Robert Cawood (1634-1713), a prominent merchant and landowner from Yorkshire.

The 18th century saw the birth of John Cawood (1701-1783), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Assembly Rooms in York.

In the 19th century, the name Cawood was associated with Edward Cawood (1810-1893), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan from 1868 to 1885.

While these examples provide a glimpse into the history of the surname Cawood, it is important to note that many other individuals with this name have contributed to various fields throughout history, though their stories may not be as well documented.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cawood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cawood surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 555 Cawoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.10x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 555 8.10x
Lancashire 28 0.34x
Durham 21 1.02x
Northumberland 15 1.46x
Staffordshire 14 0.60x
Leicestershire 11 1.43x
Middlesex 11 0.16x
Surrey 10 0.30x
Cheshire 7 0.46x
Lanarkshire 7 0.31x
Midlothian 6 0.65x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.64x
Worcestershire 5 0.55x
Monmouthshire 3 0.60x
Shropshire 3 0.50x
Lincolnshire 2 0.18x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Derbyshire 1 0.09x
Glamorgan 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.35x
Norfolk 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 69 Cawoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.83x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 69 17.83x
Scarborough 40 64.24x
Headingley Cum Burley 38 86.13x
Otley 26 156.25x
Holbeck 24 52.86x
Wortley In Bramley 16 29.48x
York St Maurice 15 116.28x
Bradford 12 7.23x
Garforth 11 209.52x
Great Ribston Cum 11 2391.30x
Newington 11 58.29x
Holy Trinity 10 6.07x
Pontefract 10 67.75x
Rotherham 10 25.88x
Sculcoates 10 9.20x
Burn 9 1111.11x
Desford 9 422.54x
Farnham 9 34.35x
Upper Poppleton 9 1343.28x
West Bromwich 9 6.73x
Calverley Cum Farsley 8 41.11x
Hunslet 8 7.49x
Preston 8 3.64x
York Holy Trinity 8 135.14x
Baildon 7 54.26x
Bothwell 7 11.54x
Bramley In Bramley 7 26.68x
Haughton Le Skerne 7 411.76x
Jesmond 7 48.34x
Knottingley 7 58.09x
Southowram 7 33.46x
Burnby 6 2068.97x
East Retford 6 74.17x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 1.61x
Green Hammerton 6 857.14x
Little Lever 6 57.20x
Sheffield 6 2.75x
Acomb 5 139.66x
Barrow In Furness 5 4.48x
Bayton 5 500.00x
Biggin 5 1724.14x
Birkenhead 5 4.11x
Blacktoft 5 632.91x
Burton Upon Trent 5 9.15x
Byker 5 9.83x
Darlington 5 6.29x
Duggleby 5 892.86x
Goldsborough 5 1000.00x
Ilkley 5 44.64x
Morley 5 14.03x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 5 196.85x
Yeadon 5 32.30x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 4 16.07x
Barnsley 4 5.66x
Bishopwearmouth 4 2.26x
Blackburn 4 1.83x
Castleford 4 16.03x
Elland Cum Greetland 4 12.96x
Killinghall 4 248.45x
Knaresborough 4 37.17x
Manningham 4 4.74x
Northowram 4 8.32x
Tadcaster West 4 73.66x
Westoe 4 3.43x
Cowpen 3 12.66x
Hackney London 3 0.77x
Hook 3 19.89x
Horton In Bradford 3 2.80x
Islington London 3 0.45x
Marton Cum Grafton 3 344.83x
Northallerton 3 34.29x
Shrewsbury St Julian 3 20.30x
Templenewsam Thorpe 3 209.79x
Whixley 3 241.94x
Wressell 3 337.08x
Monks Coppenhall 2 3.47x
Parlington 2 392.16x
Selby 2 13.97x
Templenewsam 2 40.32x
York St Mary 2 7.04x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cawood surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cawood surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 38
William 29
George 26
Thomas 24
Charles 16
Henry 12
Joseph 11
James 9
Alfred 8
Edwin 8
Harry 8
Albert 7
Arthur 6
Joshua 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Benjamin 5
Ernest 5
Richard 5
Robert 5
Tom 5
Fred 4
Frank 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Adam 2
Amos 2
David 2
Dennis 2
Edward 2
Fountain 2
Francis 2
Fred. 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Horatio 2
Jonathan 2
Leonard 2
Martin 2
Percy 2
Willie 2
Ambrose 1
Benj.S. 1
Christopher 1
Freddy 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.H. 1
Joe 1
Josephus 1
Wm.Benj. 1

FAQ

Cawood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cawood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 712 people were recorded with the Cawood surname. That placed it at #5,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cawood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 878 in 2016. That gives Cawood a modern rank of #6,413.

What does the Cawood surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place called Cawood in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Cawood map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cawood bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.