UK surname
A locational surname originating from a place called Woodhurst.
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Woodhurst surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Walthamstow, Low Leyton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodhurst is 103 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.8%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1891
103 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Woodhurst surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Woodhurst surname density by area, 1911 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 | 31 | #27,734 |
| 1861 | historical | 93 | #22,009 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 84 | #24,759 |
| 1911 | historical | 103 | #22,328 |
| 1997 | modern | 91 | #28,215 |
| 1998 | modern | 94 | #28,435 |
| 1999 | modern | 91 | #28,937 |
| 2000 | modern | 84 | #29,706 |
| 2001 | modern | 88 | #29,056 |
| 2002 | modern | 85 | #29,867 |
| 2003 | modern | 81 | #30,311 |
| 2004 | modern | 81 | #30,569 |
| 2005 | modern | 71 | #31,816 |
| 2006 | modern | 75 | #31,733 |
| 2007 | modern | 72 | #32,397 |
| 2008 | modern | 74 | #32,460 |
| 2009 | modern | 75 | #32,733 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 73 | #33,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 77 | #33,275 |
| 2014 | modern | 77 | #33,336 |
| 2015 | modern | 79 | #33,127 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Ore 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew | Sussex |
| 3 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 4 | Ore | Sussex |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Woodhurst 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 Woodhurst, 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 Woodhurst surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Woodhurst 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, Woodhurst 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 Woodhurst is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Woodhurst, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Woodhurst has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from Old English elements, merging "wudu" meaning "wood" and "hyrst" signifying "a wooded hill" or "copse." This compound name likely denoted a person who lived near or in a wooded area or on a hill surrounded by woods, a common naming convention in rural England.
The name Woodhurst appears to have regional roots in areas like Kent and Sussex, regions characterized by their dense woodlands and rolling hills. In ancient records, variations of the name may include Woodurst or Wodehurst, reflecting the fluidity of medieval English spelling.
Historical references to the surname are sparse but notable. The Domesday Book of 1086, an extensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror, does not explicitly list the name Woodhurst. However, it includes place names like Woodhurst in Huntingdonshire, which may have contributed to the formation of the surname.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Woodhurst appear in parish registers and manorial rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest mentions is of a John de Wodehurst, who appeared in the Sussex Subsidy Rolls in 1296. Similarly, records from the 1327 Lay Subsidy Rolls of Essex include a William de Wodehurst.
Several individuals with the surname have left their mark on history. Thomas Woodhurst, born in 1610 in Kent, was a notable landowner whose estate records provide valuable insight into the agricultural practices of the time. Another figure, Richard Woodhurst, a merchant from Sussex, appeared in 1642 guild records, indicating the family's involvement in early commerce.
Elizabeth Woodhurst, born in 1689, became known for her detailed diaries, chronicling daily life and events in early 18th century England. These writings offer rich descriptions of the era and reflect the family's continued prominence in their community.
In more recent history, Reverend Samuel Woodhurst, born in 1790, was a noted clergyman in Wiltshire, contributing to local religious and social reforms. His sermons and writings were well-regarded, cementing the Woodhurst name in ecclesiastical history.
The surname Woodhurst has endured through centuries, retaining its ancient roots while adapting to changing linguistic norms. It remains a testament to England's rich tradition of place-based surnames, reflecting both geographic and social histories.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodhurst 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. Middlesex leads with 24 Woodhursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.33x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 12 Woodhursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.66x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hackney London | 12 | 29.66x |
| Ore | 11 | 1208.79x |
| Sittingbourne | 11 | 567.01x |
| Camberwell | 8 | 17.36x |
| Edmonton | 7 | 120.48x |
| Bury St Edmunds St James | 6 | 255.32x |
| Portsea | 4 | 13.80x |
| Ramsgate | 4 | 99.50x |
| Ealing | 2 | 31.01x |
| Bensington | 1 | 357.14x |
| Edenbridge | 1 | 208.33x |
| Hastings Holy Trinity | 1 | 111.11x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 1 | 38.46x |
| Keymer | 1 | 116.28x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 8.78x |
| Norwood | 1 | 60.61x |
| Poole St James | 1 | 56.18x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 10.62x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Woodhurst 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 Woodhurst 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 Woodhurst households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Carman | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Assistant | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Beer Retailer | 1 |
| Bonnetmaker | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Bricklayer Labourer | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Carpenters Apprentice | 1 |
| Cook Dom | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Ground Workman | 1 |
| Hatter | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housekeeper No Occupation | 1 |
| Letter Sorter (MCS) | 1 |
| Letter Sorter G.P.O. | 1 |
| Machinist Boot | 1 |
| Miliner | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Ordinary Seaman | 1 |
| Police Inspector | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Telegraph Clerk Civil Service | 1 |
| Traveller | 1 |
| Waiter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Woodhurst surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Woodhurst a modern rank of #33,100.
A locational surname originating from a place called Woodhurst.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Woodhurst 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.