NameCensus.

UK surname

Northwood

A locational surname referring to someone from a northern wooded area or town.

In the 1881 census there were 567 people recorded with the Northwood surname, ranking it #6,120 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 772, ranked #7,122, down from #6,120 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Bedford St Paul and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Shropshire and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Northwood is 829 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.2%.

1881 census count

567

Ranked #6,120

Modern count

772

2016, ranked #7,122

Peak year

1911

829 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Northwood had 567 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,120 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 772 in 2016, ranked #7,122.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 829 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Northwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Northwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Northwood 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 320 #7,250
1861 historical 357 #7,155
1881 historical 567 #6,120
1891 historical 602 #6,369
1901 historical 717 #6,159
1911 historical 829 #5,327
1997 modern 755 #6,853
1998 modern 779 #6,905
1999 modern 793 #6,852
2000 modern 801 #6,767
2001 modern 777 #6,796
2002 modern 785 #6,883
2003 modern 791 #6,710
2004 modern 794 #6,712
2005 modern 760 #6,886
2006 modern 756 #6,942
2007 modern 790 #6,761
2008 modern 780 #6,893
2009 modern 792 #6,950
2010 modern 790 #7,101
2011 modern 779 #7,098
2012 modern 782 #6,984
2013 modern 777 #7,142
2014 modern 779 #7,153
2015 modern 781 #7,071
2016 modern 772 #7,122

Geography

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Where Northwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Bedford St Paul, London parishes, Maulden and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Shropshire and Thanet. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Bedford St Paul Bedfordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Maulden Bedfordshire
5 Luton Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 008 Central Bedfordshire
2 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
3 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
4 Thanet 002 Thanet
5 Central Bedfordshire 017 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Northwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Northwood

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Northwood is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Northwood 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

Northwood falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Northwood 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 Northwood, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Northwood

The surname Northwood is of English origin, and it is derived from a locational name, referring to someone who came from the north wood or forest. The name can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, around the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Northwood can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name may have existed before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

The name Northwood is believed to have originated from various place names in England, such as Northwood in Middlesex, Northwood in Hampshire, and Northwood in Staffordshire. These place names likely referred to the location of a settlement or village near a northern forest or wooded area.

During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the name varied, and it was sometimes written as Northwode, Nortwode, or even Norrewode. This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable bearer of the surname Northwood was Sir John Northwood (c. 1450-1518), who was a Member of Parliament for Hampshire in the early 16th century. Another notable figure was William Northwood (1570-1629), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Barnwell in Northamptonshire.

In the 17th century, the Northwood family had a presence in the American colonies, with Thomas Northwood (c. 1620-1685) being one of the earliest recorded settlers in Maryland. He arrived in the colony around 1650 and became a prominent landowner and farmer.

Later, in the 18th century, John Northwood (1724-1792) was a notable English glassmaker and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of lead crystal glass. He established the Northwood Glass Company in Staffordshire, which became renowned for its high-quality glassware.

Throughout history, the surname Northwood has been borne by various individuals from different walks of life, including scholars, clergymen, politicians, and artisans. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by those who migrated from their ancestral homelands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Northwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Northwood 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. Bedfordshire leads with 153 Northwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.42x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 153 53.42x
Shropshire 89 18.63x
Staffordshire 80 4.28x
Surrey 54 2.00x
Middlesex 47 0.85x
Warwickshire 35 2.51x
Derbyshire 23 2.66x
Essex 15 1.37x
Lancashire 15 0.23x
Leicestershire 9 1.47x
Montgomeryshire 9 7.10x
Worcestershire 7 0.97x
Hertfordshire 6 1.57x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.50x
Yorkshire 5 0.09x
Radnorshire 4 8.96x
Lincolnshire 3 0.34x
Northamptonshire 2 0.38x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.44x
Monmouthshire 1 0.25x
Oxfordshire 1 0.29x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maulden in Bedfordshire leads with 31 Northwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 1250.00x.

Place Total Index
Maulden 31 1250.00x
Bedford St Paul 29 147.66x
Kingswinford 29 42.78x
Luton 27 54.46x
Croydon 17 11.36x
Wolverhampton 14 9.75x
Bishops Castle In 13 465.95x
Bermondsey 12 7.29x
Leyton Low 12 54.08x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 6.06x
Aston 10 2.60x
Bedford St Mary 10 135.50x
Bethnal Green London 10 4.16x
Clive 10 1351.35x
Richards Castle 10 689.66x
Derby St Werburgh 9 18.00x
Kirk Hallam 9 6000.00x
Ampthill 8 186.92x
Camberwell 8 2.26x
Edgbaston 8 18.50x
Poplar London 8 7.66x
Worthen 8 157.48x
Bickenhill 7 721.65x
Bromfield 7 654.21x
Dunstable 7 79.55x
Evington 7 823.53x
Flitton 7 538.46x
Liverpool 7 1.76x
Stanton Long 7 1400.00x
West Bromwich 7 6.55x
Aston Botterell 6 1935.48x
Bedford St Cuthbert 6 236.22x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 5.39x
Tipton 6 10.50x
Birmingham 5 1.08x
Islington London 5 0.93x
Marston Moretaine 5 224.22x
Shelve 5 1724.14x
Wilshampstead 5 320.51x
Wing 5 161.29x
Bedford St Peter 4 53.76x
Burton Extra 4 37.38x
Buttington 4 1025.64x
Cefnllys 4 310.08x
Kensington London 4 1.30x
Kings Norton 4 6.18x
Leeds 4 1.29x
Newport 4 69.32x
St Albans St Peter 4 31.10x
St Pancras London 4 0.90x
Willesden 4 7.67x
Berrington 3 160.43x
Biggleswade 3 31.98x
Bow London 3 4.26x
Dudley 3 3.42x
Hyssington 3 500.00x
Much Wenlock 3 68.03x
St Luke London 3 3.38x
Wellington 3 11.17x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.39x
Bedford St John 2 465.12x
Bilston 2 5.53x
Clapham 2 2.89x
Derby St Alkmund 2 7.71x
Houghton Conquest 2 169.49x
Ilkestonderbypart 2 79.05x
Lambeth 2 0.41x
Newington 2 0.98x
Southwark St John 2 11.82x
Sutton Coldfield 2 13.64x
Trewern 2 294.12x
Upper Penn 2 42.74x
Wandsworth 2 3.76x
Watford 2 6.77x
Wellingborough 2 7.65x
West Ham 2 0.83x
Westoning 2 161.29x
Wombourn 2 57.80x
Worsley 2 4.94x
Wrockwardine 2 19.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 27
Sarah 27
Emma 18
Jane 16
Annie 12
Martha 12
Alice 8
Ann 8
Clara 6
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Fanny 6
Louisa 6
Florence 5
Hannah 5
Minnie 5
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Margaret 4
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Edith 2
Eva 2
Lilly 2
Maud 2
Rosa 2
Serena 2
Sophia 2
Amy 1
Bettsy 1
Caraline 1
Catherine 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Henrietter 1
Ina 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jennie 1
Julia 1
Susie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
George 23
William 20
James 17
Thomas 17
Charles 14
Henry 11
Joseph 11
Samuel 11
Harry 10
Edward 7
Frederick 7
Richard 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Francis 6
Amos 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Enoch 3
Ernest 3
Leonard 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Carl 1
Chas.E. 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Fred. 1
Fredk.Wll. 1
Geo 1
Geo. 1
Gerard 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
Jas.Hy. 1
Joshua 1
Michael 1
Nat. 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Northwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Northwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 567 people were recorded with the Northwood surname. That placed it at #6,120 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Northwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 772 in 2016. That gives Northwood a modern rank of #7,122.

What does the Northwood surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a northern wooded area or town.

What does the Northwood map show?

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