UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English word 'wudu' meaning forest or woodland.
In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Woode surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #27,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Yelling, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woode is 136 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.3%.
1881 census count
43
Ranked #27,575
Modern count
87
2016, ranked #32,476
Peak year
1861
136 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Woode surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Woode surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 136 | #16,556 |
| 1881 | historical | 43 | #27,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 122 | #21,053 |
| 1901 | historical | 45 | #29,156 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 72 | #30,415 |
| 1998 | modern | 69 | #31,076 |
| 1999 | modern | 73 | #30,856 |
| 2000 | modern | 63 | #31,829 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 83 | #30,352 |
| 2005 | modern | 89 | #29,683 |
| 2006 | modern | 87 | #30,292 |
| 2007 | modern | 93 | #29,777 |
| 2008 | modern | 91 | #30,431 |
| 2009 | modern | 92 | #30,820 |
| 2010 | modern | 98 | #30,540 |
| 2011 | modern | 85 | #32,127 |
| 2012 | modern | 83 | #32,611 |
| 2013 | modern | 87 | #32,472 |
| 2014 | modern | 90 | #32,309 |
| 2015 | modern | 88 | #32,421 |
| 2016 | modern | 87 | #32,476 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Yelling, London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yelling | Cambridgeshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Cheltenham | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Woode surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Woode, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Woode surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Woode household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Woode is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Woode is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Woode, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Woode has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "wudu," which means forest or wood. This suggests that the original bearers of the name likely lived near or in a woodland area. The name was primarily found in the rural areas of the country, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Hampshire.
The Woode surname appears in historical documents and records from as early as the 13th century. One of the earliest known instances is in the Assize Rolls of Warwickshire in 1221, where a Richard de la Wode is mentioned. The name can also be seen in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, referring to a John de Wude.
With spelling variations being common in the medieval period, the name has sometimes appeared as Wode, Wude, or even de la Wode in various records. Such variations are often due to the phonetic spelling practices of the time and the inconsistencies in record-keeping.
One significant early figure bearing the surname Woode was Sir Thomas Woode, born circa 1448 and died in 1521. He served as a knight of the realm under King Henry VII and was known for his contributions to the Crown's military campaigns. Another notable individual is Robert Woode, recorded as a merchant in London in the late 15th century.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, John Woode, born in 1560, made his mark as a distinguished scholar and cleric, contributing to the education system of the period. Christopher Woode, born in 1602 and an early settler in the Americas, played a role in the colonization of New England, further spreading the name beyond its English roots.
By examining these historical references, it is evident that the name Woode has deep medieval origins, with a strong association to the natural landscape of England. The lineage has produced several notable figures who made significant contributions in various fields, from military service to academia and exploration.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woode surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 10 Woodes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.90x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 10 | 4.90x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 2.17x |
| Durham | 8 | 6.41x |
| Warwickshire | 8 | 7.57x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 7.83x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.08x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.52x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.37x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.74x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 8 Woodes recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 8 | 22.71x |
| Pelton | 8 | 1355.93x |
| Clapham | 5 | 95.42x |
| Saddleworth | 5 | 156.25x |
| Bradfield | 4 | 250.00x |
| Bures St Mary | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Streatham | 4 | 128.62x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.91x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 8.01x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 24.88x |
| Duffield | 1 | 192.31x |
| Whitby | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Woode surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Woode surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Woode households.
FAQ
In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Woode surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Woode a modern rank of #32,476.
An English surname derived from the Old English word 'wudu' meaning forest or woodland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Woode bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.