NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodcock

An English occupational surname referring to a hunter of woodcocks or a dweller by a wood.

In the 1881 census there were 8,543 people recorded with the Woodcock surname, ranking it #495 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,696, ranked #662, down from #495 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Sheffield and St Martin, St Mary, Trescoe, Bryher, Sampson, St Agnes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chorley, Broadland and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodcock is 11,272 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.5%.

1881 census count

8,543

Ranked #495

Modern count

9,696

2016, ranked #662

Peak year

1911

11,272 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodcock had 8,543 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #495 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,696 in 2016, ranked #662.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11,272 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Woodcock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodcock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodcock 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 5,478 #504
1861 historical 5,748 #473
1881 historical 8,543 #495
1891 historical 9,035 #488
1901 historical 10,408 #503
1911 historical 11,272 #431
1997 modern 10,030 #617
1998 modern 10,555 #605
1999 modern 10,654 #605
2000 modern 10,572 #609
2001 modern 10,333 #605
2002 modern 10,593 #605
2003 modern 10,276 #610
2004 modern 10,236 #616
2005 modern 10,024 #618
2006 modern 9,899 #628
2007 modern 9,887 #637
2008 modern 9,896 #643
2009 modern 10,081 #645
2010 modern 10,216 #646
2011 modern 10,036 #648
2012 modern 9,775 #653
2013 modern 9,912 #657
2014 modern 9,948 #658
2015 modern 9,774 #659
2016 modern 9,696 #662

Geography

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Where Woodcocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Sheffield, St Martin, St Mary, Trescoe, Bryher, Sampson, St Agnes and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chorley, Broadland, Wakefield, North Warwickshire and Doncaster. 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 3
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 St Martin, St Mary, Trescoe, Bryher, Sampson, St Agnes Cornwall
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chorley 013 Chorley
2 Broadland 003 Broadland
3 Wakefield 032 Wakefield
4 North Warwickshire 006 North Warwickshire
5 Doncaster 002 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodcock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodcock

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

Woodcock is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woodcock falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Woodcock

The surname Woodcock has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "wudu" meaning wood and "cocc" meaning bird, likely referring to the woodcock, a distinctive migratory bird found in wooded areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a certain John Woodcok. The Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301 also list a Hugo Wodecok among the tax-paying residents.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Wodecok, Wodecokke, and Wodecoc, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327 include a William Wodecok, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 record a Johannes Wodecok.

The Woodcock surname may have also been influenced by place names like Woodcote or Woodcott, which were derived from the Old English words "wudu" and "cot" meaning a dwelling or cottage in the woods.

One notable historical figure bearing the Woodcock surname was John Woodcock (c. 1470-1512), a Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Henry VIII for denying the king's supremacy over the Church of England.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Woodcock (1608-1675), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Andrew's Church in Framlingham, Suffolk.

In the 18th century, Robert Woodcock (1690-1728) was a renowned English portrait painter, known for his works depicting members of the aristocracy and gentry.

Moving into the 19th century, Francis Woodcock (1801-1859) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several important battles, including the Battle of Navarino in 1827.

Lastly, John Woodcock (1913-2007) was a British journalist and writer who covered several major events during his career, including World War II and the Nuremberg Trials.

These examples illustrate the longstanding presence of the Woodcock surname across various walks of life throughout British history, from religion and art to military service and journalism.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodcock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodcock 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 1,837 Woodcocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,837 2.22x
Lancashire 1,246 1.26x
Middlesex 587 0.70x
Staffordshire 401 1.43x
Cheshire 398 2.16x
Warwickshire 394 1.87x
Norfolk 393 3.07x
Lincolnshire 319 2.39x
Leicestershire 297 3.21x
Kent 257 0.90x
Surrey 251 0.62x
Nottinghamshire 217 1.93x
Essex 163 0.99x
Cornwall 151 1.60x
Durham 139 0.56x
Northumberland 132 1.06x
Derbyshire 110 0.84x
Gloucestershire 107 0.65x
Shropshire 102 1.42x
Suffolk 98 0.97x
Northamptonshire 90 1.15x
Hertfordshire 87 1.51x
Cambridgeshire 83 1.57x
Sussex 73 0.52x
Worcestershire 66 0.61x
Oxfordshire 57 1.11x
Hampshire 56 0.33x
Dorset 35 0.64x
Somerset 32 0.24x
Devon 31 0.18x
Berkshire 30 0.48x
Rutland 30 4.90x
Glamorgan 29 0.20x
Wiltshire 28 0.38x
Huntingdonshire 26 1.57x
Bedfordshire 22 0.51x
Pembrokeshire 22 0.83x
Fife 20 0.41x
Monmouthshire 19 0.32x
Flintshire 12 0.54x
Roxburghshire 11 0.73x
Midlothian 9 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.16x
Caernarfonshire 8 0.24x
Lanarkshire 7 0.03x
West Lothian 7 0.56x
Angus 6 0.08x
Brecknockshire 6 0.36x
Dumfriesshire 6 0.33x
Isle of Man 6 0.39x
Montgomeryshire 6 0.31x
Channel Islands 4 0.16x
Cardiganshire 3 0.15x
Morayshire 3 0.23x
Royal Navy 3 0.30x
Herefordshire 2 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.02x
Cumberland 1 0.01x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.08x
Merionethshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 168 Woodcocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.90x.

Place Total Index
Aston 168 2.90x
Birmingham 143 2.04x
Brightside Bierlow 94 5.80x
Lambeth 88 1.21x
Leeds 75 1.61x
West Ham 74 2.04x
Sheffield 73 2.78x
Liversedge 70 19.03x
Scilly Islands St Mary 70 190.01x
Islington London 69 0.85x
Blackburn 63 2.39x
Bradfield 59 18.53x
Ecclesfield 56 9.25x
Bury 54 4.78x
Nether Hallam 54 4.83x
Nottingham St Mary 53 1.82x
Everton 52 1.65x
North Bierley 52 11.66x
Ashton Under Lyne 48 2.22x
Oldham 48 1.50x
Leicester St Margaret 47 2.09x
Loughborough 46 10.97x
Over Darwen 45 5.70x
Aughton 42 42.87x
Hackney London 42 0.90x
Bethnal Green London 41 1.13x
Manchester 41 0.92x
Sculcoates 40 3.05x
Ecclesall Bierlow 39 2.32x
Gomersal 38 9.86x
Horsham St Faith 38 177.57x
Scilly Islands 38 224.19x
Accrington 37 4.11x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 36 4.68x
Cleckheaton 36 11.83x
Kingswinford 36 3.52x
Westoe 36 2.56x
Wigan 36 2.60x
Gateshead 35 1.88x
Gorton 35 3.76x
Huddersfield 34 2.83x
Liverpool 34 0.57x
Hulme 33 1.60x
St Marylebone London 33 0.74x
Newton St Faith 32 331.61x
Glossop Dale 31 5.07x
Preston 31 1.17x
Wolstanton 31 3.63x
Barnsley 30 3.52x
St Pancras London 30 0.45x
Almondbury 29 7.26x
Chelsea London 29 1.15x
Leicester St Mary 29 3.88x
Wednesbury 28 3.98x
Wooldale 27 19.27x
Pemberton 26 6.59x
Austonley 25 53.45x
Chorley 25 4.50x
Gorleston 25 9.69x
Horsford 25 125.69x
St George Hanover 25 2.30x
Ashton In Makerfield 24 8.52x
Limehouse London 24 2.62x
Salford 24 0.82x
Bethersden 23 79.42x
Bromley London 23 1.25x
Deal 23 9.48x
Mansfield Woodhouse 23 30.76x
Melton Mowbray 23 13.84x
Scilly Islands St Martin 23 460.92x
Shoreditch London 23 0.64x
Wakefield 23 3.63x
Wolstanton Knutton 23 13.39x
Carlton Le Moorland 22 248.59x
Cudworth 22 73.85x
Dudley 22 1.66x
Kimberworth 22 4.80x
Melbourn 22 42.76x
Portsea 22 0.66x
West Bromwich 22 1.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 536
Sarah 330
Elizabeth 312
Ann 205
Jane 170
Emma 143
Alice 124
Ellen 119
Annie 113
Eliza 108
Hannah 103
Margaret 103
Harriet 78
Martha 75
Emily 70
Edith 59
Clara 57
Maria 57
Fanny 54
Ada 52
Louisa 44
Florence 40
Harriett 40
Anne 39
Frances 37
Kate 33
Lucy 33
Caroline 32
Charlotte 32
Isabella 31
Agnes 30
Catherine 28
Amelia 23
Eleanor 23
Amy 22
Susan 20
Lydia 19
Rose 19
Rebecca 18
Ruth 18
Susannah 18
Jessie 17
Ethel 16
Rachel 16
Julia 15
Matilda 15
Sophia 15
Gertrude 14
Laura 14
Anna 13

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 514
John 490
George 293
Thomas 285
James 247
Joseph 210
Henry 180
Charles 158
Samuel 97
Robert 90
Arthur 88
Alfred 81
Edward 81
Richard 77
Frederick 61
Walter 57
Frank 53
Harry 53
Herbert 43
Albert 42
Benjamin 39
Fred 39
David 33
Ernest 33
Edwin 28
Francis 24
Thos. 22
Tom 20
Fredrick 18
Wm. 18
Alexander 17
Mark 17
Peter 17
Sam 17
Daniel 16
Jonathan 16
Andrew 13
Percy 13
Isaac 12
Ralph 12
Geo. 10
Matthew 10
Enoch 9
Horace 9
Joshua 9
Reginald 9
Christopher 8
Joe 8
Leonard 8
Willie 8

FAQ

Woodcock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodcock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8,543 people were recorded with the Woodcock surname. That placed it at #495 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodcock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,696 in 2016. That gives Woodcock a modern rank of #662.

What does the Woodcock surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a hunter of woodcocks or a dweller by a wood.

What does the Woodcock map show?

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