NameCensus.

UK surname

Norwood

From the northern woods or a person living to the north of the woods.

In the 1881 census there were 1,209 people recorded with the Norwood surname, ranking it #3,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,608, ranked #3,868, down from #3,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Watford and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Mansfield and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Norwood is 1,767 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.0%.

1881 census count

1,209

Ranked #3,339

Modern count

1,608

2016, ranked #3,868

Peak year

1998

1,767 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Norwood had 1,209 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,608 in 2016, ranked #3,868.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,661 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Norwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Norwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Norwood 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 733 #3,586
1861 historical 827 #3,335
1881 historical 1,209 #3,339
1891 historical 1,381 #3,146
1901 historical 1,623 #3,181
1911 historical 1,661 #2,941
1997 modern 1,730 #3,445
1998 modern 1,767 #3,509
1999 modern 1,735 #3,597
2000 modern 1,733 #3,585
2001 modern 1,701 #3,580
2002 modern 1,701 #3,650
2003 modern 1,650 #3,669
2004 modern 1,640 #3,690
2005 modern 1,618 #3,701
2006 modern 1,631 #3,684
2007 modern 1,612 #3,742
2008 modern 1,626 #3,741
2009 modern 1,643 #3,797
2010 modern 1,705 #3,753
2011 modern 1,651 #3,817
2012 modern 1,601 #3,844
2013 modern 1,641 #3,829
2014 modern 1,633 #3,872
2015 modern 1,623 #3,852
2016 modern 1,608 #3,868

Geography

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Where Norwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Watford and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Mansfield, Wolverhampton and Halton. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Watford Hertfordshire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 001 North East Lincolnshire
2 Mansfield 007 Mansfield
3 Wolverhampton 034 Wolverhampton
4 Wolverhampton 005 Wolverhampton
5 Halton 012 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Norwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Norwood

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Norwood, 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 Norwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Norwood household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Norwood 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

Norwood 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

Norwood 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 Norwood is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Norwood

The surname Norwood originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "norð" (meaning north) and "wudu" (meaning wood), referring to a northern wood or forest. The name likely originated from various places in England, including Norwood in Yorkshire and Norwood in Surrey.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Norwood appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Norewode" in Hampshire. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, a record mentions a Richard de Norewod, indicating the use of the surname in its early form. During this period, the name was also spelled as "Norewode" and "Norewude," reflecting the variations in spelling common in medieval times.

Notable individuals with the surname Norwood include Sir John Norwood (c.1450-1508), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1509. Another prominent figure was Richard Norwood (1590-1675), an English mathematician and surveyor known for his work in surveying the colony of Virginia in the mid-17th century.

In the 18th century, John Norwood (1715-1767) was a British naval officer and explorer who participated in the exploration of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America. Meanwhile, Richard Norwood (1761-1823) was an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House.

A more recent historical figure was Sir Cyril Norwood (1875-1956), a prominent English educator and headmaster who served as the President of St. John's College, Oxford, from 1934 to 1946.

While the surname Norwood has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, likely due to migration and the influence of the British Empire. The name has maintained its connection to its locational roots, reflecting the historical significance of place names and their role in the development of surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Norwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Norwood 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. Middlesex leads with 194 Norwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.64x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 194 1.64x
Hertfordshire 150 18.39x
Kent 98 2.43x
Staffordshire 83 2.08x
Surrey 77 1.34x
Durham 70 1.99x
Lanarkshire 59 1.54x
Buckinghamshire 53 7.41x
Yorkshire 50 0.43x
Warwickshire 47 1.58x
Worcestershire 40 2.59x
Lancashire 37 0.26x
Nottinghamshire 31 1.94x
Derbyshire 27 1.46x
Essex 25 1.07x
Cumberland 21 2.06x
Lincolnshire 19 1.00x
Berkshire 16 1.80x
Oxfordshire 14 1.92x
Ayrshire 11 1.24x
Cheshire 10 0.38x
Northamptonshire 10 0.90x
Sussex 9 0.45x
Shropshire 8 0.78x
Norfolk 7 0.38x
Perthshire 6 1.13x
Bedfordshire 5 0.82x
Leicestershire 5 0.38x
Somerset 5 0.26x
Hampshire 4 0.16x
Channel Islands 3 0.86x
Dorset 3 0.39x
Royal Navy 3 2.13x
Angus 2 0.18x
Devon 2 0.08x
Northumberland 2 0.11x
Renfrewshire 2 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.13x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Isle of Man 1 0.46x
Stirlingshire 1 0.23x
Wiltshire 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. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 41 Norwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.23x.

Place Total Index
Barony 41 4.23x
Berkhampstead 35 190.84x
Tring 27 124.02x
Birmingham 25 2.51x
St Albans St Stephen 23 322.58x
Hillingdon 22 58.31x
Islington London 21 1.83x
Kingswinford 20 13.79x
Margate St John Baptist 20 27.06x
Lambeth 19 1.84x
Battersea 18 4.13x
Tipton 16 13.08x
Wigginton 15 520.83x
Watford 14 22.14x
Hammersmith London 13 4.46x
Rainham 13 117.22x
St Albans St Michael 13 142.70x
Sunninghill 13 105.52x
Bishopwearmouth 12 3.97x
Lea Ashton Ingol 12 128.76x
Paddington London 12 2.76x
Sedgley 12 8.09x
St George In East 12 14.91x
Walthamstow 12 14.27x
Edgbaston 11 11.89x
Rowley Regis 11 9.88x
Stevenston 11 47.66x
Aston 10 1.22x
Dorking 10 25.83x
Glasgow 10 1.47x
Hackney London 10 1.51x
Kensington London 10 1.52x
Shadwell London 10 30.20x
St George Hanover 10 6.47x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.75x
Crook Billy Row 9 19.96x
Deptford St Paul 9 2.89x
Hendon 9 21.14x
Maidstone 9 7.48x
Northchurch 9 103.33x
Oxford St Clement 9 48.81x
Skegby 9 92.12x
Snaith Cowick 9 128.39x
Whittington 9 35.12x
Camberwell 8 1.06x
Edlesborough 8 122.70x
Esh 8 31.23x
Everingham 8 747.66x
Govan 8 0.85x
Hampstead London 8 4.34x
Mile End Old Town 8 4.28x
Ribbesford 8 62.21x
Seaton 8 67.34x
Sutton Valence 8 174.29x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 8 34.41x
Wolsingham 8 24.94x
Eton 7 43.16x
Flimby 7 81.30x
Grange Gillingham 7 391.06x
Hockerton 7 1707.32x
Marsworth 7 376.34x
Thetford St Cuthbert 7 106.38x
Aspull 6 18.17x
Bilston 6 7.75x
Dudley 6 3.19x
East Ham 6 13.84x
Feltham 6 50.76x
Halton 6 759.49x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 3.94x
Perth West Church 6 23.81x
St Nicholas Lincoln 6 33.17x
Stockton On Tees 6 3.54x
Upper Mitton 6 173.41x
Whitehaven 6 11.05x
Willesden 6 5.38x
Bierton With Broughton 5 151.98x
Cannock 5 7.17x
Chesham 5 18.97x
Croydon 5 1.56x
Walthanstow 5 128.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 77
Sarah 49
Elizabeth 38
Jane 26
Ann 25
Emma 21
Alice 20
Annie 20
Emily 18
Ellen 17
Eliza 11
Fanny 8
Hannah 8
Agnes 7
Caroline 7
Frances 7
Louisa 7
Maria 7
Rebecca 7
Ada 6
Charlotte 6
Harriet 6
Edith 5
Florence 5
Lucy 5
Amy 4
Gertrude 4
Julia 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Helen 3
Isabella 3
Leah 3
Lizzie 3
Ruth 3
Susannah 3
Beatrice 2
Bertha 2
Eleanor 2
Eliz. 2
Ethel 2
Floranna 2
Harriett 2
Janet 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Miriam 2
Phoebe 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 75
John 59
George 39
Thomas 38
James 34
Joseph 29
Charles 26
Henry 26
Alfred 21
Frederick 18
Edward 16
Samuel 13
Arthur 11
Robert 11
Richard 9
Walter 9
David 8
Harry 7
Albert 6
Ernest 6
Francis 5
Frank 5
Benjamin 4
Fredrick 4
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
Leonard 3
Mark 3
Obed 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Algernon 2
Ambrose 2
Amos 2
Cyril 2
Jasper 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Reginald 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
W. 2
Willm. 2
Charlie 1
Elijah 1
Eniden 1
Ephraim 1
Everatt 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Norwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Norwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,209 people were recorded with the Norwood surname. That placed it at #3,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Norwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,608 in 2016. That gives Norwood a modern rank of #3,868.

What does the Norwood surname mean?

From the northern woods or a person living to the north of the woods.

What does the Norwood map show?

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