NameCensus.

UK surname

Womack

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked at a weir or dam.

In the 1881 census there were 526 people recorded with the Womack surname, ranking it #6,513 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 867, ranked #6,471, up from #6,513 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bentley with Arksey, Ecclesfield and Silkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, South Norfolk and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Womack is 936 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.8%.

1881 census count

526

Ranked #6,513

Modern count

867

2016, ranked #6,471

Peak year

1999

936 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Womack had 526 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,513 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 867 in 2016, ranked #6,471.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 820 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Womack surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Womack surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Womack 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 391 #6,144
1861 historical 366 #6,987
1881 historical 526 #6,513
1891 historical 605 #6,341
1901 historical 734 #6,034
1911 historical 820 #5,371
1997 modern 900 #5,963
1998 modern 929 #6,010
1999 modern 936 #6,022
2000 modern 923 #6,066
2001 modern 912 #6,027
2002 modern 935 #6,014
2003 modern 871 #6,227
2004 modern 884 #6,185
2005 modern 832 #6,406
2006 modern 845 #6,352
2007 modern 845 #6,404
2008 modern 847 #6,445
2009 modern 890 #6,323
2010 modern 921 #6,275
2011 modern 901 #6,319
2012 modern 857 #6,489
2013 modern 885 #6,425
2014 modern 888 #6,448
2015 modern 869 #6,486
2016 modern 867 #6,471

Geography

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Where Womacks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bentley with Arksey, Ecclesfield, Silkstone, Doncaster and Warmfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, South Norfolk, Barnsley, Wakefield and Breckland. 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 Bentley with Arksey Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Ecclesfield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Warmfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 012 Doncaster
2 South Norfolk 011 South Norfolk
3 Barnsley 022 Barnsley
4 Wakefield 030 Wakefield
5 Breckland 013 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Womack

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Womack

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Womack, 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 Womack surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Womack 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Womack 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

Womack is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Womack

The surname Womack is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "womb" or "wamb," meaning a hollow or depression, and "ac," meaning an oak tree. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a hollow or depression in the landscape where oak trees grew.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 13th century, when a Robert de Wombrok was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1275. This spelling variation, "Wombrok," suggests that the name may have been associated with a specific location or brook in Yorkshire.

The Womack surname also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, the exact spelling and context in which it appears in this historic document are unclear.

Notable individuals with the surname Womack throughout history include:

1. John Womack (1541-1596), an English Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs. 2. Walter Womack (1588-1658), an English bishop and theologian who served as the Bishop of St. Davids in Wales. 3. Laurence Womock (1612-1685), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Suffolk. 4. Giles Womack (1645-1715), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for East Grinstead. 5. William Womack (1778-1842), an American soldier and politician who served as a congressman from Virginia.

While the surname Womack has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States and other English-speaking countries, through immigration and migration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Womack families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Womack 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 300 Womacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.89x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 300 5.89x
Norfolk 74 9.36x
Middlesex 29 0.56x
Lancashire 27 0.44x
Derbyshire 18 2.24x
Suffolk 14 2.24x
Northumberland 11 1.44x
Durham 9 0.59x
Essex 8 0.79x
Leicestershire 8 1.40x
Cambridgeshire 7 2.15x
Surrey 6 0.24x
Hertfordshire 5 1.41x
Warwickshire 4 0.31x
Lanarkshire 3 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.32x
Herefordshire 1 0.47x
Kent 1 0.06x
Staffordshire 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. Bradfield in Yorkshire leads with 49 Womacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 249.49x.

Place Total Index
Bradfield 49 249.49x
North Lopham 32 2601.63x
Bentley Cum Arksey 22 827.07x
Sheffield 22 13.57x
Nether Hallam 19 27.57x
Forncett St Peter 18 1651.38x
Barnsley 17 32.36x
Warmfield Cum Heath 15 872.09x
Bawtry 14 875.00x
Whalton 11 1929.82x
Almondbury 10 40.60x
Doncaster 10 26.87x
Hulme 10 7.85x
Mexborough 10 98.91x
Roystone 10 502.51x
Norton 9 135.75x
Brightside Bierlow 8 8.01x
Leicester St Margaret 8 5.76x
Oldham 7 3.56x
Sandal Magna 7 92.96x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 6 32.43x
Bowling 6 11.89x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 5.79x
Manningham 6 9.56x
Normanton 6 39.19x
St Pancras London 6 1.45x
Ardleigh 5 177.94x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.24x
Horbury 5 56.12x
Pontefract 5 45.58x
St Marylebone London 5 1.82x
Stevenage 5 91.07x
Armley 4 17.80x
Austerfield 4 645.16x
Cudworth 4 217.39x
Eckington 4 20.46x
Gildersome 4 65.36x
Kenninghall 4 184.33x
Killamarsh 4 79.84x
Leeds 4 1.39x
Rothwell 4 38.87x
Soham 4 57.06x
Stockton On Tees 4 5.43x
Stratford On Avon 4 55.63x
Wavertree 4 20.48x
Barony 3 0.71x
Bermondsey 3 1.96x
Bishopwearmouth 3 2.29x
Camberwell 3 0.91x
East Harling 3 159.57x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 3 21.13x
Isleworth 3 13.13x
Manchester 3 1.09x
Rawmarsh 3 16.67x
South Lopham 3 315.79x
South Lynn 3 33.63x
Westhall 3 394.74x
Wickham Skeith 3 337.08x
Coney Weston 2 571.43x
Coundon 2 32.26x
Dewsbury 2 3.83x
Dickleburgh 2 136.99x
Hadleigh 2 32.95x
Holy Trinity 2 1.63x
Kensington London 2 0.70x
Romford 2 12.47x
Shoreditch London 2 0.90x
Stansfield 2 10.67x
Tanshelf 2 49.14x
Toxteth Park 2 0.97x
Brampton Bierlow 1 15.34x
Heigham 1 2.36x
Hereford St John 1 41.49x
Islington London 1 0.20x
Outseats 1 294.12x
Paddington London 1 0.53x
St George Hanover 1 1.49x
Stratton St Mary 1 91.74x
Wavendon 1 58.14x
Wolstanton Knutton 1 9.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 25
George 20
Thomas 17
James 11
Herbert 10
Charles 9
Harry 8
Joseph 8
Robert 8
Walter 8
Henry 7
Samuel 7
Edward 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Francis 5
Frederick 5
Frank 4
Wilfred 4
Albert 3
Fred 3
Wm. 3
Edwin 2
Hugh 2
Joe 2
Paul 2
Richard 2
S. 2
Simon 2
Wiliam 2
Willm. 2
Auther 1
Brigand 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Ernest 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geoge 1
Jn. 1
Jno. 1
Joe. 1
Lenord 1
Marcus 1
Moses 1
Oscar 1
Young 1

FAQ

Womack surname: questions and answers

How common was the Womack surname in 1881?

In 1881, 526 people were recorded with the Womack surname. That placed it at #6,513 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Womack surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 867 in 2016. That gives Womack a modern rank of #6,471.

What does the Womack surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked at a weir or dam.

What does the Womack map show?

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