NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodings

Surname derived from someone living near or in the woods.

In the 1881 census there were 260 people recorded with the Woodings surname, ranking it #10,781 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 418, ranked #11,472, down from #10,781 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Peter, Burton-on-Trent and Hanbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Staffordshire and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodings is 469 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.8%.

1881 census count

260

Ranked #10,781

Modern count

418

2016, ranked #11,472

Peak year

2000

469 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodings had 260 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,781 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 418 in 2016, ranked #11,472.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 394 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Woodings surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodings surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodings 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 130 #17,164
1881 historical 260 #10,781
1891 historical 295 #11,255
1901 historical 297 #11,721
1911 historical 394 #9,394
1997 modern 408 #10,844
1998 modern 454 #10,338
1999 modern 453 #10,400
2000 modern 469 #10,105
2001 modern 454 #10,162
2002 modern 450 #10,452
2003 modern 447 #10,343
2004 modern 449 #10,338
2005 modern 441 #10,368
2006 modern 423 #10,765
2007 modern 415 #11,047
2008 modern 423 #10,975
2009 modern 432 #11,048
2010 modern 457 #10,770
2011 modern 450 #10,790
2012 modern 441 #10,828
2013 modern 433 #11,184
2014 modern 421 #11,544
2015 modern 420 #11,458
2016 modern 418 #11,472

Geography

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Where Woodings' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Peter, Burton-on-Trent, Hanbury, Leek and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Staffordshire and Derby. 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 St Peter Derbyshire
2 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
3 Hanbury Staffordshire
4 Leek Staffordshire
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Staffordshire 005 East Staffordshire
2 Derby 012 Derby
3 East Staffordshire 011 East Staffordshire
4 Derby 024 Derby
5 Derby 003 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodings

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodings

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Woodings, 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 Woodings surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Woodings household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Woodings 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

Woodings 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

Woodings 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 Woodings 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 Woodings, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Woodings

The surname Woodings is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the central part of England, particularly within the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The name likely derives from the Old English words "wudu" meaning "wood" and the suffix "-ing" which is indicative of belonging to or associated with, suggesting "the people of the wood" or "dwellers near the wood."

The earliest records of the surname Woodings appear in medieval tax rolls and land charters. One notable reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire from the early 14th century, where a "John de Wudyng" is mentioned, dating approximately to the year 1327. This entry illustrates the connection of the name to wooded areas and its local relevance in tax documentation of that era.

Spelling variations of the surname throughout its history include Wuding, Wodding, and Wodynge, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling in medieval England. It is often through these variations that we trace the evolution of the surname. Another early example comes from manorial records in Staffordshire, documenting a "Thomas Wodynges" around the year 1379, thus showing the spread of this surname across central England.

One significant historical figure bearing the surname is Richard Woodings, born in 1567 in Derbyshire. He is noted in parish records as a landowner and local benefactor, contributing to the establishment of a local church. Another person of interest is Henry Woodings, who served as a yeoman in the mid-17th century and is recorded in the Civil War archives around 1643 as part of the Parliamentarian forces.

In the 18th century, the name appears prominently in London with Francis Woodings, born in 1723, a clockmaker whose works are listed in London's historical trade directories. His intricate timepieces were well-regarded, some of which remain preserved in museum collections today.

A noteworthy 19th-century figure is Reverend George Woodings, born in 1801 in Staffordshire, who became an influential Methodist preacher known for his passionate sermons and his role in the temperance movement. His legacy includes several published works that advocated for social reforms and moral improvement.

The history of the surname Woodings encapsulates a strong connection to English heritage, with its etymology rooted in natural features of the landscape and adaptation through various historical records and documents. Through centuries, individuals with this surname have made tangible contributions across different facets of English society, thus cementing its place in the annals of British history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodings families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodings 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. Staffordshire leads with 165 Woodings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.27x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 165 19.27x
Derbyshire 36 9.07x
Surrey 11 0.89x
Lancashire 10 0.33x
Warwickshire 10 1.56x
Yorkshire 7 0.28x
Kent 5 0.58x
Herefordshire 4 3.85x
Caernarfonshire 3 2.93x
Hampshire 3 0.58x
Worcestershire 2 0.60x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Middlesex 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.42x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newborough in Staffordshire leads with 36 Woodings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6315.79x.

Place Total Index
Newborough 36 6315.79x
Burton Upon Trent 14 69.90x
Litchurch 14 87.61x
Cannock 12 80.32x
Hamstall Ridware 10 3030.30x
Horninglow 10 248.14x
Burntwood Edial 9 164.53x
Winshill 9 355.73x
Yoxall 9 796.46x
Beswick 7 90.91x
Rugeley 7 114.01x
Aston 6 3.41x
Kingston 6 2500.00x
Leek Lowe 6 52.68x
Marchington Woodlands 6 2142.86x
South Hiendley 6 1875.00x
Armitage 5 450.45x
Branstone 5 581.40x
Croydon 5 7.29x
Deptford St Paul 5 7.49x
Little Chester 5 1000.00x
Abbots Bromley 4 314.96x
Burslem 4 16.31x
Clifford 4 579.71x
Draycott In Clay 4 1025.64x
Newton Solney 4 975.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 4.41x
Bangor 3 30.33x
Battersea 3 3.21x
Hulme 3 4.77x
Lambeth 3 1.36x
Stapenhill 3 50.76x
Tutbury 3 143.54x
Barton Under Needwood 2 129.03x
Birmingham 2 0.94x
Blithfield 2 769.23x
Coleshill 2 97.56x
Farringdon 2 392.16x
Kings Norton 2 6.73x
Chawton 1 243.90x
Cheslyn Hay 1 64.10x
Elford 1 270.27x
Foston Scropton 1 217.39x
Helmdon 1 217.39x
Hurdsfield 1 29.07x
Langcliffe 1 166.67x
Lichfield St Mary 1 40.49x
Marston Upon Dove 1 78.13x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.13x
St Giles In Fields 1 11.43x
Stafford St Chad 1 250.00x
Stone 1 9.13x
Uttoxeter 1 22.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 11
Ann 9
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Lucy 2
Rose 2
Alice 1
Amealia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charllotte 1
E. 1
Elenor 1
Elisa 1
Elizebeth 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Geogina 1
Georgiana 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Lillian 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Phoebe 1
Rhoda 1
Rosetta 1
Selena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
James 12
John 12
Thomas 12
Charles 11
George 11
Henry 7
Joseph 6
David 5
Francis 3
Isaac 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Elija 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Aurther 1
Benjamin 1
Edward 1
Edwina 1
Elizah 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
J.Thomas 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Leenord 1
Marple 1
Stephen 1
Willm.H. 1

FAQ

Woodings surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodings surname in 1881?

In 1881, 260 people were recorded with the Woodings surname. That placed it at #10,781 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodings surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 418 in 2016. That gives Woodings a modern rank of #11,472.

What does the Woodings surname mean?

Surname derived from someone living near or in the woods.

What does the Woodings map show?

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