NameCensus.

UK surname

Elwood

From an English place name meaning "elder tree forest," referring to a person who lived near such a woodland.

In the 1881 census there were 559 people recorded with the Elwood surname, ranking it #6,192 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 723, ranked #7,514, down from #6,192 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Boxworth and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough, Sheffield and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elwood is 737 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.3%.

1881 census count

559

Ranked #6,192

Modern count

723

2016, ranked #7,514

Peak year

2014

737 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elwood had 559 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,192 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 723 in 2016, ranked #7,514.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 601 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Elwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elwood 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 463 #5,359
1861 historical 485 #5,385
1881 historical 559 #6,192
1891 historical 484 #7,621
1901 historical 601 #7,068
1911 historical 548 #7,311
1997 modern 656 #7,617
1998 modern 686 #7,598
1999 modern 700 #7,513
2000 modern 687 #7,597
2001 modern 675 #7,569
2002 modern 694 #7,564
2003 modern 658 #7,764
2004 modern 656 #7,780
2005 modern 642 #7,841
2006 modern 642 #7,881
2007 modern 646 #7,901
2008 modern 656 #7,860
2009 modern 681 #7,817
2010 modern 718 #7,631
2011 modern 691 #7,762
2012 modern 705 #7,562
2013 modern 722 #7,554
2014 modern 737 #7,486
2015 modern 728 #7,503
2016 modern 723 #7,514

Geography

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Where Elwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Boxworth, St John Hackney and Harwich St Nicholas. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterborough, Sheffield, Tendring and Leeds. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Boxworth Huntingdonshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Harwich St Nicholas Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterborough 004 Peterborough
2 Sheffield 038 Sheffield
3 Tendring 001 Tendring
4 Leeds 057 Leeds
5 Sheffield 070 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elwood

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Elwood, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Elwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Elwood household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Elwood is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Elwood is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elwood 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 Elwood 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 Elwood, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Elwood

The surname Elwood has its origins in England, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English elements "ell," meaning elder tree, and "wudu," meaning wood or forest. The name likely referred to someone who lived near an elder wood or grove.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elwood can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Ailwudu." This early record suggests that the name was already in use during the late 11th century in England.

During the medieval period, the name Elwood appeared in various forms, including Elewode, Elwode, and Elwod. These variations reflect the changes in spelling and pronunciation over time. The name was also associated with certain place names, such as Elwood in Gloucestershire and Elwood Park in Staffordshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Elwood throughout history include:

1. John Elwood (c. 1580-1634), an English clergyman and author who wrote "The Survey of Anti-Christ," a work criticizing the Catholic Church.

2. Thomas Elwood (1639-1713), an English writer and Quaker who was a close friend of the poet John Milton. Elwood transcribed several of Milton's works, including "Paradise Lost."

3. Anne Katherine Elwood (1686-1757), an English poet and playwright known for her tragedies and translations of classical works.

4. Samuel Elwood (1774-1837), an American surveyor and politician who served as the Surveyor General of Pennsylvania from 1821 to 1825.

5. Douglas J. Elwood (1919-1998), an American psychologist and professor known for his work in clinical psychology and psychological assessment.

Throughout its history, the surname Elwood has maintained a connection to its Anglo-Saxon roots, reflecting its origins in the woodlands and forests of England. While not a particularly common name, it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including authors, politicians, and academics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elwood 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 115 Elwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 115 2.14x
Middlesex 83 1.53x
Lancashire 49 0.76x
Lincolnshire 47 5.42x
Suffolk 39 5.90x
Cambridgeshire 29 8.44x
Surrey 25 0.95x
Cumberland 21 4.50x
Essex 19 1.77x
Nottinghamshire 16 2.19x
Hertfordshire 15 4.01x
Huntingdonshire 14 13.00x
Durham 12 0.74x
Worcestershire 12 1.69x
Norfolk 11 1.32x
Somerset 11 1.26x
Cheshire 7 0.58x
Leicestershire 7 1.16x
Northumberland 5 0.62x
Westmorland 5 4.20x
Kent 4 0.22x
Warwickshire 4 0.29x
Staffordshire 2 0.11x
Angus 1 0.20x
East Lothian 1 1.39x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 15 Elwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.93x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 15 4.93x
Great Gransden 13 1101.69x
Dudley 12 13.94x
Harwich St Nicholas 12 145.10x
Walcot 11 23.66x
Bradford 10 7.69x
Islington London 10 1.90x
Manningham 10 15.10x
Nether Hallam 10 13.75x
Huddersfield 9 11.49x
Scotter 9 452.26x
St Marylebone London 9 3.11x
Stradbroke 9 403.59x
Bury St Edmunds St James 8 45.35x
Chelsea London 8 4.90x
Sculcoates 8 9.39x
Spexhall 8 2105.26x
Thornton In Bradford 8 44.72x
Bermondsey 7 4.34x
Egremont 7 62.89x
Little Gransden 7 1555.56x
Sedgefield 7 121.74x
Shoreditch London 7 2.98x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 7 57.38x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 11.74x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 6 140.52x
Cockermouth 6 61.04x
Comberton 6 560.75x
Great Grimsby 6 10.90x
Huttons Ambo 6 779.22x
Leicester St Margaret 6 4.09x
Richmond 6 71.43x
Sandon 6 422.54x
Stockport 6 9.74x
Walton On Hill 6 17.21x
Watford 6 20.70x
Barton Le Willows 5 1041.67x
Basford 5 14.84x
Boxworth 5 1063.83x
Budle 5 3571.43x
Chipping 5 273.22x
Dufton 5 649.35x
Gibbet Hills 5 5000.00x
Glanford Brigg 5 161.81x
Knottingley 5 52.91x
Lambeth 5 1.06x
Norwich St Michael At 5 103.31x
Pendleton In Salford 5 6.52x
Scawby 5 174.22x
Sheffield 5 2.92x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 34.39x
South Elmham St Cross 5 1250.00x
St Pancras London 5 1.15x
Worksop 5 23.06x
Ballingdon Cum Brundon 4 294.12x
Barnsley 4 7.22x
Barrow In Furness 4 4.57x
Bulwell 4 25.17x
Croydon 4 2.73x
Ellel 4 120.48x
Everton 4 1.95x
Hampstead London 4 4.74x
Ickleton 4 325.20x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.47x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.19x
York St Maurice 4 39.53x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 5.99x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.27x
Birmingham 3 0.66x
Cratfield 3 326.09x
Field Dalling 3 491.80x
Fulham London 3 3.81x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 3 80.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.75x
St Albans 3 39.16x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 12.78x
St Swithin Lincoln 3 22.01x
Welbury 3 857.14x
Darlington 2 3.21x
Leeds 2 0.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Sarah 20
Elizabeth 19
Annie 13
Ann 12
Emma 12
Jane 12
Hannah 10
Martha 8
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Margaret 7
Maria 7
Clara 6
Harriet 6
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Fanny 4
Louisa 4
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Caroline 3
Eleanor 3
Florence 3
Isabella 3
Marian 3
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Celina 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Marion 2
Sophia 2
Almenia 1
Anna 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Elizh. 1
Emmer 1
Esther 1
Jessia 1
Julia 1
Kake 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
John 34
George 18
James 18
Thomas 17
Arthur 10
Charles 9
Henry 9
Frederick 8
Samuel 5
Edward 4
Herbert 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Francis 3
Harry 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Cornelius 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Ephraim 2
Fred 2
G. 2
Gervase 2
Isaac 2
Mark 2
Michael 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Christopher 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Elisha 1
Fred. 1
Fred.Geo. 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Herbt. 1
Jsh. 1
Lerah 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Newman 1
Rodger 1
Saml. 1
Sampson 1

FAQ

Elwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 559 people were recorded with the Elwood surname. That placed it at #6,192 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 723 in 2016. That gives Elwood a modern rank of #7,514.

What does the Elwood surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "elder tree forest," referring to a person who lived near such a woodland.

What does the Elwood map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Elwood 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.