NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodbridge

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a wooden bridge.

In the 1881 census there were 1,249 people recorded with the Woodbridge surname, ranking it #3,257 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,541, ranked #4,013, down from #3,257 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, East Cambridgeshire and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodbridge is 1,696 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.4%.

1881 census count

1,249

Ranked #3,257

Modern count

1,541

2016, ranked #4,013

Peak year

1999

1,696 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodbridge had 1,249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,257 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,541 in 2016, ranked #4,013.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,632 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Woodbridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodbridge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodbridge 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 791 #3,373
1861 historical 844 #3,274
1881 historical 1,249 #3,257
1891 historical 1,380 #3,147
1901 historical 1,554 #3,313
1911 historical 1,632 #2,981
1997 modern 1,604 #3,694
1998 modern 1,693 #3,640
1999 modern 1,696 #3,667
2000 modern 1,653 #3,732
2001 modern 1,636 #3,698
2002 modern 1,674 #3,690
2003 modern 1,600 #3,767
2004 modern 1,610 #3,763
2005 modern 1,547 #3,847
2006 modern 1,536 #3,875
2007 modern 1,525 #3,930
2008 modern 1,524 #3,955
2009 modern 1,542 #4,015
2010 modern 1,588 #3,983
2011 modern 1,573 #3,975
2012 modern 1,553 #3,955
2013 modern 1,570 #3,982
2014 modern 1,565 #4,012
2015 modern 1,566 #3,973
2016 modern 1,541 #4,013

Geography

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Where Woodbridges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Sevenoaks and Cheshire East. 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 Bedminster Somerset
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 017 Central Bedfordshire
2 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
3 Fenland 002 Fenland
4 Sevenoaks 002 Sevenoaks
5 Cheshire East 036 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodbridge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodbridge

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Woodbridge is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Woodbridge is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woodbridge falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Woodbridge

The surname Woodbridge originates from England and dates back to the Middle Ages, approximately around the 13th century. It is considered a topographical surname, meaning it was derived from a geographical feature of the landscape. Specifically, it combines the Old English words "wudu" meaning wood or forest, and "brycge" meaning bridge. This indicates that the original bearers of the name lived near or around a bridge that was close to a wooded area.

Woodbridge as a place name can be traced to several locations in England, with prominent examples in Suffolk and Gloucestershire. The Suffolk town of Woodbridge is notably mentioned in historical records dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Wudebrigg". Through various evolutions in spelling over centuries, the name settled as Woodbridge.

Historical references to the surname appear in medieval records. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is from the County of Somerset, where a Robert de Wodebrugge was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. This supports the understanding that the surname was already established by the early 14th century.

Famous bearers of the surname Woodbridge span several centuries. The Reverend Benjamin Woodbridge (1622–1684) was a notable figure, being the first graduate of Harvard College in 1642 and later a prominent Puritan minister. Thomas Woodbridge (1564–1612), an English clergyman and author, made contributions to religious literature in his time.

In the realm of politics, William Woodbridge (1780–1861) was a prominent American politician who served as the Governor of Michigan from 1840 to 1841. He also had a significant career as a U.S. Senator. Wilfred Woodbridge (1897–1938), a lesser-known but notable individual, served as a pioneering aviator in early British aviation history.

In more recent history, Woodbridge Nathan Ferris (1853–1928), who shares Woodbridge as part of his middle name, was an American educator and politician, serving as the governor of Michigan and a U.S. Senator, reflecting the recurring prominence of the name in political circles.

The history of the surname Woodbridge reflects both its geographical origins in England and its widespread adoption across different regions. The name has been borne by numerous historical figures contributing to various fields, etching its place in history as a surname of note and distinction.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodbridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodbridge 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 387 Woodbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.17x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 387 3.17x
Buckinghamshire 149 20.20x
Berkshire 105 11.46x
Oxfordshire 82 10.88x
Surrey 64 1.08x
Warwickshire 63 2.05x
Somerset 53 2.70x
Suffolk 34 2.29x
Worcestershire 29 1.82x
Kent 28 0.67x
Lancashire 27 0.19x
Hertfordshire 20 2.38x
Yorkshire 20 0.17x
Cambridgeshire 19 2.46x
Sussex 19 0.92x
Staffordshire 16 0.39x
Essex 15 0.62x
Bedfordshire 13 2.06x
Devon 13 0.51x
Durham 13 0.36x
Derbyshire 12 0.63x
Cheshire 11 0.41x
Gloucestershire 10 0.42x
Huntingdonshire 8 3.30x
Herefordshire 7 1.40x
Lanarkshire 7 0.18x
Northamptonshire 7 0.61x
Dunbartonshire 6 1.83x
Midlothian 4 0.24x
Cornwall 3 0.22x
Wiltshire 3 0.28x
Royal Navy 2 1.38x
Dorset 1 0.12x
Wigtownshire 1 0.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 50 Woodbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.09x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 50 27.09x
Wycombe 44 80.00x
Islington London 41 3.47x
St Pancras London 36 3.67x
Birmingham 30 2.92x
Aylesbury 29 88.71x
Harrow On The Hill 25 102.54x
Ealing 23 21.09x
Bethnal Green London 21 3.96x
Paddington London 19 4.23x
Kingsey 18 1764.71x
Aston 17 2.01x
Haddenham 17 280.53x
Bray 16 59.46x
Charney 16 1720.43x
Kensington London 15 2.21x
Lambeth 15 1.41x
Lt Milton 14 921.05x
St Marylebone London 14 2.15x
Exning 13 173.33x
Luton 13 11.89x
Tottenham 13 6.69x
Bishopwearmouth 11 3.53x
Hammersmith London 11 3.66x
Harrow 11 58.98x
Marcham 11 334.35x
Abingdon St Helen 10 37.34x
Edmonton 10 10.17x
Hackney London 10 1.46x
Ipswich St Helen 10 56.75x
Little Missenden 10 215.05x
Radcliffe 10 14.33x
Hampton Wick London 9 100.67x
Shoreditch London 9 1.70x
Soham 9 54.12x
Stanford In Vale 9 247.25x
Uxbridge 9 64.56x
Wanstead 9 21.33x
Amersham 8 76.48x
Bovingdon 8 181.41x
Chimney 8 6666.67x
Cookham 8 28.01x
Exeter St Thomas The 8 30.90x
Pinner 8 74.84x
Sandwich St Clement 8 227.27x
Sculcoates 8 4.17x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 8 46.32x
St George Hanover 8 5.02x
Staveley 8 23.59x
Stilton 8 294.12x
Willesden 8 6.95x
Brightside Bierlow 7 2.95x
Cradley 7 95.63x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.18x
East Lavant 7 416.67x
Hillingdon 7 17.99x
Kings Norton 7 4.90x
Kingston On Thames 7 4.90x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 7 78.30x
St Andrew Holborn 7 16.92x
St George Bloomsbury 7 10.00x
Upton Cum Chalvey 7 23.81x
West Bromwich 7 2.97x
East Grinstead 6 20.60x
Govan 6 0.61x
Hatfield 6 35.19x
Moulton 6 94.04x
Old Kilpatrick 6 15.48x
Pusey 6 1224.49x
Shrivenham 6 132.16x
Stoke Mandeville 6 288.46x
Webheath 6 211.27x
Burwell 5 54.00x
Camberwell 5 0.64x
Croydon 5 1.51x
Disley Stanley 5 36.05x
Edgbaston 5 5.24x
Leatherhead 5 33.58x
Penn 5 108.93x
Redditch 5 15.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 86
George 55
Henry 46
John 46
Charles 42
Thomas 42
James 40
Joseph 20
Alfred 17
Arthur 17
Edward 15
Albert 13
Frederick 10
Walter 8
Richard 7
Samuel 7
Francis 6
Harry 6
Herbert 5
Stephen 5
Thos. 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Edwin 4
Fredrick 4
Jacob 4
Frank 3
Agustus 2
Cecil 2
Enoch 2
Frederic 2
Jason 2
Luke 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Alginnon 1
C.B. 1
Edmund 1
Elisha 1
Elliot 1
Emma 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Henery 1
Heny.Jas. 1
Herbut 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1

FAQ

Woodbridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodbridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,249 people were recorded with the Woodbridge surname. That placed it at #3,257 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodbridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,541 in 2016. That gives Woodbridge a modern rank of #4,013.

What does the Woodbridge surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a wooden bridge.

What does the Woodbridge map show?

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