NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodard

An English occupational surname for a forester or someone who lived near or worked in a wood.

In the 1881 census there were 640 people recorded with the Woodard surname, ranking it #5,564 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 790, ranked #6,995, down from #5,564 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Osyth, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Suffolk Coastal, Fenland and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodard is 971 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.4%.

1881 census count

640

Ranked #5,564

Modern count

790

2016, ranked #6,995

Peak year

1911

971 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodard had 640 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,564 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 790 in 2016, ranked #6,995.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 971 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Woodard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodard 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 561 #4,515
1861 historical 600 #4,419
1881 historical 640 #5,564
1891 historical 736 #5,392
1901 historical 789 #5,707
1911 historical 971 #4,657
1997 modern 833 #6,335
1998 modern 849 #6,443
1999 modern 865 #6,399
2000 modern 845 #6,492
2001 modern 830 #6,465
2002 modern 823 #6,623
2003 modern 802 #6,641
2004 modern 820 #6,531
2005 modern 807 #6,572
2006 modern 770 #6,844
2007 modern 758 #6,993
2008 modern 752 #7,089
2009 modern 777 #7,051
2010 modern 786 #7,129
2011 modern 793 #7,003
2012 modern 790 #6,911
2013 modern 811 #6,866
2014 modern 816 #6,870
2015 modern 811 #6,851
2016 modern 790 #6,995

Geography

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Where Woodards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Osyth, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Kelsale, Carlton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Suffolk Coastal, Fenland, South Somerset and Hackney. 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 St Osyth Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kelsale, Carlton Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
2 Fenland 011 Fenland
3 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
4 Hackney 022 Hackney
5 Fenland 010 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodard

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Woodard, 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 Woodard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Woodard 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Woodard is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Woodard is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woodard falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Woodard

The surname Woodard is of English origin, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "wudu" and "hird," meaning "wood" and "herd" or "keeper," respectively. It originally referred to someone who guarded or tended the woods, likely a forester or woodsman.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where it appears as "Wudehird." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Wodehird" and "Wodehurde" in various county records.

The Woodard surname has a strong association with certain regions of England, particularly the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. These areas were known for their extensive woodlands, which may have contributed to the prevalence of the name in those regions.

Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the Woodard surname. One of the earliest was John Woodard (c. 1490-1556), an English clergyman and chaplain to King Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was John Woodard (1613-1675), an English clergyman and educator who founded several schools in England, including the Woodard Schools.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of early colonial Virginia, with John Woodard (b. 1625) being one of the first settlers to arrive in the colony. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the American colonies and later the United States.

Other notable individuals with the Woodard surname include:

- Thomas Woodard (1767-1853), an American farmer and soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War. - William Woodard (1806-1889), an English-born Australian explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in the exploration of Western Australia. - James Woodard (1884-1966), an American blues musician and songwriter known for his work with Memphis Minnie. - Alphonso Woodard (1925-2021), an American actor and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career.

While the Woodard surname has deep roots in England and the United States, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. Today, it is a name found in many countries, carrying with it a rich history and a connection to the woodlands of old.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodard 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 169 Woodards recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.69x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 169 2.69x
Suffolk 143 18.69x
Essex 92 7.42x
Surrey 54 1.76x
Norfolk 38 3.93x
Kent 29 1.35x
Sussex 17 1.61x
Durham 12 0.64x
Lancashire 12 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 8 2.11x
Gloucestershire 8 0.65x
Yorkshire 8 0.13x
Berkshire 6 1.27x
Brecknockshire 6 4.78x
Hampshire 5 0.39x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.01x
Hertfordshire 4 0.92x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.47x
Warwickshire 4 0.25x
Bedfordshire 3 0.92x
Lincolnshire 3 0.30x
Midlothian 3 0.36x
Royal Navy 3 4.01x
Somerset 3 0.30x
Wiltshire 2 0.36x
Cardiganshire 1 0.65x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Osyth in Essex leads with 32 Woodards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1063.12x.

Place Total Index
St Osyth 32 1063.12x
Aldringham 26 2363.64x
St Pancras London 25 4.94x
East Ham 22 95.61x
Shoreditch London 16 5.88x
Rendham 15 1898.73x
Saxmundham 15 528.17x
Camberwell 13 3.24x
Bethnal Green London 12 4.40x
Edmonton 11 21.73x
Lambeth 11 2.01x
Melton 10 332.23x
Ubbeston 10 2439.02x
Bradfield St George 9 947.37x
Islington London 9 1.48x
Peasenhall 9 483.87x
Battersea 8 3.46x
Bow London 8 10.00x
Bramford 8 277.78x
Cheltenham 8 8.42x
Deptford St Paul 8 4.84x
Esh 8 58.82x
Lewisham 8 7.00x
Newington 8 3.45x
Norwich St Stephen 8 90.19x
Poplar London 8 6.75x
Brightlingsea 7 98.73x
Great Clacton 7 165.88x
Hove 7 15.06x
Kelsale 7 330.19x
Kensington London 7 2.00x
Mile End Old Town 7 7.06x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 7 111.64x
Southcoates 7 20.25x
St Luke London 7 6.95x
Upton Cum Chalvey 7 46.27x
Westminster St James 7 10.84x
Foots Cray 6 146.34x
Norwich St Paul 6 103.81x
Oldham 6 2.49x
St Giles In Fields 6 27.69x
Vaynor 6 97.72x
Willesden 6 10.13x
Diss 5 60.39x
Hammersmith London 5 3.23x
Hoveton St John 5 793.65x
Ramsey 5 306.75x
St George Bloomsbury 5 13.87x
Swefling 5 806.45x
Tilehurst 5 52.47x
Woodbridge 5 51.12x
Birmingham 4 0.76x
Chelsea London 4 2.11x
Chesterton 4 32.60x
Finchley 4 16.61x
Great Stanmore 4 141.84x
Mitcham 4 20.67x
Normanton On Soar 4 579.71x
Stoke Charity 4 1600.00x
Thorpe 4 305.34x
Tottington Higher End 4 47.11x
West Ham 4 1.46x
Wisborough Green 4 112.36x
Brighton 3 1.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 0.89x
Grays Thurrock 3 26.02x
Hemel Hempstead 3 15.38x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 13.99x
Northill 3 98.68x
Richmond 3 6.99x
Royal Navy 3 4.69x
Stoke 3 20.78x
Sutton 3 245.90x
Walthamstow 3 6.72x
Westminster St John 3 3.92x
Willington 3 27.78x
Winthorpe 3 416.67x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 2 13.93x
Lakenham 2 14.58x
St George Hanover 2 2.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 21
Eliza 17
Emma 17
Alice 15
Sarah 14
Ellen 11
Jane 11
Annie 10
Maria 10
Louisa 8
Emily 7
Lydia 7
Edith 6
Ada 5
Amelia 5
Anna 5
Martha 5
Agnes 4
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Fanny 4
Lucy 4
Susan 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Grace 3
Hannah 3
Lily 3
Sophia 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Bathsheba 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Marian 2
Mildred 2
Minnie 2
Nelly 2
Rebecca 2
Roosane 2
Bella 1
Bessie 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Tabather 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Woodard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 640 people were recorded with the Woodard surname. That placed it at #5,564 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 790 in 2016. That gives Woodard a modern rank of #6,995.

What does the Woodard surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a forester or someone who lived near or worked in a wood.

What does the Woodard map show?

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