NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodfield

A locational surname derived from someone living by a wooded field.

In the 1881 census there were 1,012 people recorded with the Woodfield surname, ranking it #3,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,311, ranked #4,578, down from #3,870 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Warwick St Nicholas, Enfield and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Warwick, Stratford-on-Avon and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodfield is 1,462 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.5%.

1881 census count

1,012

Ranked #3,870

Modern count

1,311

2016, ranked #4,578

Peak year

1911

1,462 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodfield had 1,012 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,870 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,311 in 2016, ranked #4,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,462 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Woodfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodfield 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 638 #4,070
1861 historical 734 #3,717
1881 historical 1,012 #3,870
1891 historical 1,164 #3,671
1901 historical 1,377 #3,649
1911 historical 1,462 #3,298
1997 modern 1,384 #4,179
1998 modern 1,461 #4,142
1999 modern 1,454 #4,183
2000 modern 1,435 #4,212
2001 modern 1,385 #4,253
2002 modern 1,412 #4,269
2003 modern 1,356 #4,328
2004 modern 1,348 #4,358
2005 modern 1,329 #4,357
2006 modern 1,317 #4,401
2007 modern 1,321 #4,424
2008 modern 1,333 #4,418
2009 modern 1,350 #4,455
2010 modern 1,373 #4,475
2011 modern 1,362 #4,459
2012 modern 1,337 #4,464
2013 modern 1,370 #4,449
2014 modern 1,381 #4,439
2015 modern 1,328 #4,548
2016 modern 1,311 #4,578

Geography

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Where Woodfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Warwick St Nicholas, Enfield, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken, Warwick St Mary and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Warwick, Stratford-on-Avon, Swindon, Bromsgrove and Shropshire. 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 Warwick St Nicholas Warwickshire
2 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
4 Warwick St Mary Warwickshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Warwick 008 Warwick
2 Stratford-on-Avon 006 Stratford-on-Avon
3 Swindon 003 Swindon
4 Bromsgrove 010 Bromsgrove
5 Shropshire 039 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodfield

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Woodfield, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Woodfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Woodfield household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Woodfield 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.

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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

Woodfield is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woodfield falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Woodfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Woodfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Woodfield

The surname Woodfield has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a toponymic surname, meaning it is derived from a place name. The name is composed of the Old English words "wudu" meaning "wood" and "feld" meaning "open land" or "field." Together, these elements indicate a person who hailed from or lived near an area characterized by open fields adjacent to woodland.

Woodfield likely originated in regions of England where both woods and fields were prominent in the landscape. Some of the earliest mentions of similar names can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, although Woodfield itself does not appear in this monumental manuscript, its components do, reflecting the common nature of the elements from which it is derived.

The earliest documented appearances of the surname Woodfield are found in parish records and local government documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable early example is Robert de Woodfield, who was recorded in Norfolk in 1273. The variants of the surname, such as Wodefeld and Wodfeld, were also recorded during this period, reflecting the evolving nature of spelling before standardization.

William Woodfield (circa 1500-1567) is one of the earliest known notable individuals with this surname. He was a landowner in Lancastershire and his land documents provide insights into the early use of the surname in legal and property contexts. Another historical figure is John Woodfield (1623-1691), who was a parliamentary officer during the English Civil War. His military service records and subsequent pension documents reflect the movement of this surname among different strata of society.

Moving into the 18th century, the Woodfield surname appeared more frequently in various public records, indicating both an increase in population and wider geographic spread. George Woodfield (1724-1783), a noted agriculturalist from Sussex, contributed to early agrarian literature. His written works on crop rotation and soil management include acknowledgments, reflecting broader recognition of his expertise.

In the 19th century, the surname continued to appear in significant contexts. Edward Woodfield (1799-1858), an industrialist and inventor during the British Industrial Revolution, received several patents for machinery improvements used in textile manufacturing. His innovations were instrumental in the rapid development of the industry in northern England.

In summary, the surname Woodfield has a rich heritage rooted in the English landscape. From its origins in descriptive topography, it has evolved through centuries, appearing in various forms and spelling variants in legal, military, agricultural, and industrial contexts. Notable bearers across history, such as Robert de Woodfield, William Woodfield, John Woodfield, George Woodfield, and Edward Woodfield, demonstrate the diverse roles individuals with this surname have played in shaping British history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodfield 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. Warwickshire leads with 385 Woodfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.42x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 385 15.42x
Middlesex 119 1.20x
Staffordshire 81 2.42x
Worcestershire 62 4.80x
Hertfordshire 52 7.62x
Leicestershire 40 3.64x
Essex 25 1.28x
Gloucestershire 25 1.29x
Derbyshire 21 1.35x
Bedfordshire 19 3.71x
Northamptonshire 18 1.93x
Oxfordshire 16 2.62x
Monmouthshire 15 2.10x
Lancashire 14 0.12x
Yorkshire 14 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 11 1.84x
Durham 11 0.37x
Norfolk 10 0.66x
Kent 9 0.27x
Rutland 9 12.38x
Somerset 9 0.56x
Hampshire 8 0.39x
Cornwall 6 0.54x
Flintshire 6 2.25x
Surrey 5 0.10x
Sussex 5 0.30x
Suffolk 4 0.33x
Devon 3 0.15x
Northumberland 3 0.20x
Berkshire 2 0.27x
Cheshire 2 0.09x
Royal Navy 2 1.70x
Shropshire 2 0.23x
Wiltshire 2 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 65 Woodfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.81x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 65 7.81x
Enfield 37 56.96x
Coventry St Michael 32 39.90x
Coventry Holy Trinity 28 37.55x
Warwick St Nicholas 28 152.92x
Aston 27 3.93x
Redditch 26 99.16x
Warwick St Mary 23 106.09x
West Bromwich 23 12.02x
St Pancras London 22 2.76x
Coleshill 21 262.17x
Tysoe 21 621.30x
Harpenden 19 182.52x
Aston Cantlow 16 428.95x
Barton In Clay 13 361.11x
Fillongley 13 365.17x
Lilley 13 760.23x
Sedgley 13 10.47x
Stoneleigh 13 314.01x
Oldbury 12 18.86x
West Ham 12 2.78x
Miserdine 11 753.42x
Harborne 10 9.34x
Northfield 10 40.77x
Barby Cum Onley 9 466.32x
Ecclesfield 9 12.51x
Knowle 9 175.44x
Newport 9 26.35x
Newton Biggin 9 1097.56x
St Marylebone London 9 1.70x
Thurmaston North 9 633.80x
Walton On Trent 9 600.00x
Bromley London 8 3.67x
Hutton Henry 8 129.03x
Lichfield St Mary 8 82.99x
North Wootton 8 727.27x
Plumstead 8 7.10x
Radway 8 919.54x
Stapenhill 8 34.68x
Stoke Bruern 8 280.70x
Almondsbury 7 94.34x
Hitchin 7 22.73x
Ketton 7 185.19x
Leicester St Margaret 7 2.61x
Leyton 7 20.80x
Shepton Mallet 7 39.15x
Steeple Claydon 7 242.21x
Sutton Coldfield 7 26.67x
W Adderbury 7 463.58x
Westminster St James 7 6.88x
Hexton 6 882.35x
Hugglescote 6 37.15x
Keyham 6 606.06x
Luton 6 6.76x
Maxstoke 6 731.71x
St Woollos 6 7.51x
Worthenbury 6 397.35x
Baginton 5 684.93x
Bolehall Glascote 5 47.26x
Evington 5 326.80x
Great Barr 5 130.89x
Kings Norton 5 4.31x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 8.45x
Offley 5 112.61x
Portsea 5 1.26x
West Derby 5 1.45x
Wolverhampton 5 1.95x
Woodford 5 22.60x
Blundeston 4 165.29x
Bulkington 4 74.07x
Hammersmith London 4 1.64x
Inkberrow 4 76.48x
Islington London 4 0.42x
Leicester St Mary 4 4.51x
Madron Penzance 4 9.81x
Oxford St Thomas 4 14.02x
Painswick 4 29.13x
Walsall Foreign 4 2.32x
Fulham London 3 2.09x
Westoe 3 1.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 56
Sarah 45
Elizabeth 35
Emma 24
Alice 23
Ann 22
Eliza 21
Ellen 20
Annie 16
Emily 15
Hannah 15
Harriet 15
Jane 14
Florence 9
Martha 9
Charlotte 7
Harriett 7
Ada 6
Edith 6
Kate 6
Louisa 6
Maria 6
Anne 5
Frances 5
Susan 5
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Lucy 4
Matilda 4
Agnes 3
Isabella 3
Lizzie 3
May 3
Susannah 3
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
Eleanor 2
Grace 2
Helen 2
Helena 2
Jessie 2
Mabel 2
Piety 2
Rachel 2
Rhoda 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Elizth. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 63
John 58
George 36
James 34
Thomas 34
Henry 30
Charles 21
Joseph 21
Edward 12
Ernest 11
Alfred 10
Edwin 10
Frederick 10
Walter 9
Arthur 8
Frank 8
Harry 8
Robert 8
Isaac 6
Samuel 6
Wm. 6
Albert 5
Richard 5
Francis 4
Herbert 4
Matthew 4
Alexander 3
Dennis 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Stephen 3
Austin 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Eliza 2
Fred 2
Henery 2
Jno. 2
Leonard 2
Oliver 2
Simeon 2
Tom 2
Chas 1
Daniel 1
Fredk. 1
G.H. 1
Geo.Henry 1
Mary 1
Moses 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Woodfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,012 people were recorded with the Woodfield surname. That placed it at #3,870 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,311 in 2016. That gives Woodfield a modern rank of #4,578.

What does the Woodfield surname mean?

A locational surname derived from someone living by a wooded field.

What does the Woodfield map show?

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