NameCensus.

UK surname

Garwood

A locational surname referring to someone from Garwood, a place in England meaning "enclosed settlement by a triangular wood."

In the 1881 census there were 1,461 people recorded with the Garwood surname, ranking it #2,854 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,138, ranked #3,024, down from #2,854 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gorleston and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, South Norfolk and Thurrock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garwood is 2,340 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.3%.

1881 census count

1,461

Ranked #2,854

Modern count

2,138

2016, ranked #3,024

Peak year

1998

2,340 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garwood had 1,461 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,854 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,138 in 2016, ranked #3,024.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,281 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Garwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Garwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garwood 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 935 #2,961
1861 historical 1,046 #2,682
1881 historical 1,461 #2,854
1891 historical 1,789 #2,560
1901 historical 2,004 #2,659
1911 historical 2,281 #2,222
1997 modern 2,251 #2,755
1998 modern 2,340 #2,769
1999 modern 2,319 #2,803
2000 modern 2,275 #2,837
2001 modern 2,230 #2,835
2002 modern 2,305 #2,800
2003 modern 2,224 #2,837
2004 modern 2,222 #2,841
2005 modern 2,179 #2,859
2006 modern 2,142 #2,898
2007 modern 2,134 #2,934
2008 modern 2,139 #2,959
2009 modern 2,184 #2,969
2010 modern 2,224 #2,985
2011 modern 2,187 #2,991
2012 modern 2,155 #2,970
2013 modern 2,165 #3,012
2014 modern 2,202 #2,980
2015 modern 2,175 #2,986
2016 modern 2,138 #3,024

Geography

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Where Garwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gorleston, Lambeth, Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy and Dedham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ipswich, South Norfolk, Thurrock and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 3
2 Gorleston Suffolk
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex
5 Dedham Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ipswich 016 Ipswich
2 South Norfolk 007 South Norfolk
3 Ipswich 014 Ipswich
4 Thurrock 013 Thurrock
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garwood

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Garwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Garwood household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Garwood is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Garwood is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garwood falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Garwood is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Garwood

The surname Garwood is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from two Old English words: 'gara', meaning a triangular piece of land, and 'wudu', meaning a wood or forest. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a triangular-shaped wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Garwood can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1175, where a person named Willelmus de Garewude is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the Garwood surname appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, which were census-like records from the period. These rolls documented a John de Garwode, suggesting the name's presence in the region.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Garwood surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the name's formation, such as Garwood in Buckinghamshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Garwood surname was Sir Thomas Garwood (c. 1490 - 1555), a prominent English politician and courtier during the reign of King Henry VIII. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1555.

Another notable figure was John Garwood (1575 - 1648), an English minister and religious writer who authored several works, including "The Maintenance of the True Religion" and "A Treatise of Baptism."

In the 18th century, Caleb Garwood (1696 - 1776) was a renowned English surveyor and cartographer. He is best known for his detailed maps of various counties in England, including Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Sir Michael Garwood (1804 - 1886) was a British naval officer and politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Guildford from 1857 to 1865.

Lastly, Edmund Garwood (1879 - 1964) was a British geologist and professor at University College London. He made significant contributions to the study of sedimentary rocks and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1928.

These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence of the Garwood surname in England and the diverse fields in which individuals bearing this name have made their mark throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garwood 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. Suffolk leads with 409 Garwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.50x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 409 23.50x
Middlesex 241 1.69x
Essex 198 7.02x
Surrey 161 2.31x
Norfolk 110 5.01x
Yorkshire 80 0.56x
Kent 58 1.19x
Lancashire 25 0.15x
Glamorgan 23 0.92x
Lincolnshire 16 0.70x
Cheshire 14 0.44x
Cambridgeshire 13 1.44x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.67x
Devon 11 0.37x
Hampshire 11 0.38x
Warwickshire 11 0.31x
Derbyshire 9 0.40x
Sussex 9 0.37x
Northumberland 8 0.38x
Durham 7 0.16x
Berkshire 6 0.56x
Northamptonshire 6 0.45x
Midlothian 4 0.21x
Somerset 4 0.17x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.66x
Royal Navy 3 1.76x
Bedfordshire 2 0.27x
Channel Islands 2 0.47x
Gloucestershire 2 0.07x
Wiltshire 2 0.16x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 51 Garwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.09x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 51 4.09x
Writtle 36 312.23x
Brockley 34 2193.55x
Gorleston 33 74.63x
Dedham 30 350.47x
Islington London 30 2.17x
Lowestoft 27 32.83x
Horringer 24 740.74x
Bury St Edmunds St James 23 49.47x
St Pancras London 23 2.00x
Bromley London 22 7.00x
Stanstead 22 1202.19x
East Bergholt 21 360.82x
Heigham 21 17.81x
Camberwell 20 2.19x
Great Yarmouth 18 9.89x
Glemsford 17 139.12x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 16 48.97x
Ramsgate 16 20.10x
Shoreditch London 16 2.58x
Hackney London 15 1.87x
Mile End Old Town London 14 4.60x
Bow London 13 7.15x
Skipton 13 29.17x
Boxted 12 297.03x
Great Grimsby 12 8.27x
Hawkedon 12 882.35x
Llandaff 12 14.50x
Southwark Christchurch 12 17.92x
Deptford St Paul 11 2.92x
Great Barton 11 272.95x
Hartest 11 365.45x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 11 68.11x
Mile End 11 213.18x
Penarth 11 45.23x
West Ham 11 1.77x
Haverhill 10 389.11x
Paddington London 10 1.90x
Reigate Foreign 10 13.26x
Terrington St Clement 10 100.70x
Battersea 9 1.71x
Birmingham 9 0.75x
Fulham London 9 4.34x
Godstone 9 72.17x
Lewisham 9 3.46x
Rotherhithe 9 5.10x
Sudbury St Peter 9 94.34x
Thurnscoe 9 737.70x
Brampton 8 547.95x
East Ham 8 15.28x
Fornham All Sts 8 386.47x
Playford 8 683.76x
Rawreth 8 493.83x
Rede 8 727.27x
Saham Toney 8 134.91x
Tasburgh 8 366.97x
Twickenham 8 13.06x
Woodrising 8 1702.13x
Bermondsey 7 1.65x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.13x
Cavenham 7 769.23x
Everton 7 1.30x
Fornham St Martin 7 460.53x
Gillingham 7 6.96x
Haddiscoe 7 362.69x
Horseheath 7 262.17x
Linton 7 119.05x
Nottingham St Mary 7 1.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 2.43x
Stradishall 7 374.33x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 4.70x
Birdsall 6 382.17x
Bradford 6 1.75x
Harrow 6 27.47x
Hawstead 6 359.28x
St Giles In Fields London 6 8.56x
Stock 6 200.00x
Whepstead 6 200.00x
Wickhambrook 6 91.74x
Woodbridge 6 26.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 79
Elizabeth 59
Sarah 45
Emma 38
Ellen 29
Alice 28
Eliza 27
Annie 21
Ann 20
Emily 19
Jane 18
Maria 18
Harriet 15
Susan 15
Caroline 13
Charlotte 12
Martha 11
Louisa 10
Ada 9
Edith 9
Hannah 8
Kate 8
Rose 8
Clara 7
Frances 7
Isabella 7
Jessie 7
Lucy 7
Florence 6
Laura 6
Agnes 5
Esther 5
Fanny 5
Julia 5
Matilda 5
Sophia 5
Anna 4
Harriett 4
Margaret 4
Ruth 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Gertrude 3
Maude 3
Minnie 3
Selina 3
Lydia 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 76
George 75
John 55
James 41
Charles 40
Arthur 29
Thomas 29
Robert 27
Henry 25
Samuel 25
Alfred 22
Frederick 20
Joseph 20
Walter 13
Richard 12
Edward 11
Albert 9
Harry 9
Daniel 8
David 8
Ernest 8
Benjamin 7
Herbert 7
Wm. 7
Frank 5
Willie 5
Philip 4
Robt. 4
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Isaac 3
A. 2
Abraham 2
Archibald 2
Augustus 2
Ben 2
Clifton 2
Edmond 2
Fredrick 2
Hugh 2
Jonathan 2
Leonard 2
Maurice 2
Oliver 2
Owen 2
Percy 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Edm. 1
Wm.M. 1

FAQ

Garwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,461 people were recorded with the Garwood surname. That placed it at #2,854 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,138 in 2016. That gives Garwood a modern rank of #3,024.

What does the Garwood surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Garwood, a place in England meaning "enclosed settlement by a triangular wood."

What does the Garwood map show?

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