NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodley

From a place name referring to a woodland clearing or meadow.

In the 1881 census there were 2,652 people recorded with the Woodley surname, ranking it #1,674 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,991, ranked #1,698, down from #1,674 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Littlebury and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Vale of White Horse, West Berkshire and St Edmundsbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodley is 4,189 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.5%.

1881 census count

2,652

Ranked #1,674

Modern count

3,991

2016, ranked #1,698

Peak year

1998

4,189 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodley had 2,652 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,674 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,991 in 2016, ranked #1,698.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,945 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Woodley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodley 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 1,750 #1,650
1861 historical 1,841 #1,568
1881 historical 2,652 #1,674
1891 historical 3,149 #1,503
1901 historical 3,546 #1,576
1911 historical 3,945 #1,298
1997 modern 3,950 #1,645
1998 modern 4,189 #1,610
1999 modern 4,184 #1,627
2000 modern 4,178 #1,620
2001 modern 4,067 #1,630
2002 modern 4,171 #1,613
2003 modern 4,061 #1,625
2004 modern 3,991 #1,656
2005 modern 3,897 #1,669
2006 modern 3,861 #1,693
2007 modern 3,854 #1,713
2008 modern 3,866 #1,720
2009 modern 4,011 #1,694
2010 modern 4,069 #1,704
2011 modern 3,969 #1,722
2012 modern 3,942 #1,711
2013 modern 4,055 #1,689
2014 modern 4,084 #1,693
2015 modern 4,023 #1,696
2016 modern 3,991 #1,698

Geography

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Where Woodleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Littlebury, Lambeth and Chipping Wycombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Vale of White Horse, West Berkshire, St Edmundsbury and Cotswold. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Littlebury Essex
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Chipping Wycombe Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Vale of White Horse 010 Vale of White Horse
2 West Berkshire 011 West Berkshire
3 St Edmundsbury 012 St Edmundsbury
4 Cotswold 010 Cotswold
5 West Berkshire 021 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodley

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Woodley is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Woodley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woodley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Woodley

The surname Woodley originated in England and can be traced back to the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a locational name derived from any of the several places called Woodley, which are found across different counties in England, such as Berkshire, Cheshire, and Wiltshire. The name is derived from the Old English words "wudu" meaning "wood" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow," thus indicating a person who lived near a woodland clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Woodley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of lands and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Wudelei" and "Wudelegh" in various entries, referring to places with the same name.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Wodelegh," "Wodelye," and "Wudeley" in historical records and documents. One notable person with this surname was William de Woodley, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Berkshire in 1275.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Woodley became more widespread across England, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One such person was Sir Robert Woodley (1567-1641), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Heytesbury in Wiltshire.

Another prominent figure was Richard Woodley (1591-1653), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Wilts from 1629 until his death.

In the 18th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals like Edward Woodley (1741-1810), an English landscape painter known for his pastoral scenes and landscapes.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable figures with the surname Woodley was William Woodley (1825-1903), an English geologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of fossil mollusks.

Throughout history, the surname Woodley has been associated with various professions and fields, from politics and religion to art and science, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodley 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. Middlesex leads with 436 Woodleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.67x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 436 1.67x
Berkshire 409 20.93x
Devon 368 6.79x
Surrey 279 2.20x
Essex 209 4.07x
Oxfordshire 163 10.14x
Kent 136 1.53x
Buckinghamshire 115 7.31x
Hampshire 60 1.12x
Cornwall 58 1.97x
Somerset 44 1.05x
Lancashire 40 0.13x
Hertfordshire 39 2.17x
Durham 32 0.41x
Warwickshire 31 0.47x
Yorkshire 28 0.11x
Sussex 27 0.62x
Cambridgeshire 22 1.33x
Gloucestershire 21 0.41x
Wiltshire 18 0.78x
Worcestershire 17 0.50x
Cheshire 14 0.24x
Lincolnshire 13 0.31x
Monmouthshire 13 0.69x
Glamorgan 11 0.24x
Dorset 10 0.59x
Channel Islands 7 0.91x
Northamptonshire 7 0.29x
Royal Navy 7 2.26x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.57x
Cumberland 6 0.27x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.48x
Staffordshire 4 0.05x
Bedfordshire 2 0.15x
Midlothian 2 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.06x
Renfrewshire 2 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.02x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.19x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.03x
Shropshire 1 0.04x
Suffolk 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East West Hagbourn in Berkshire leads with 46 Woodleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 696.97x.

Place Total Index
East West Hagbourn 46 696.97x
Lambeth 43 1.89x
Islington London 42 1.66x
St Pancras London 42 2.00x
Newington 37 3.85x
Deptford St Paul 36 5.25x
Hackney London 35 2.40x
Reading St Giles 34 17.73x
Wycombe 32 27.27x
West Ham 30 2.64x
Battersea 29 3.03x
Littlebury 29 409.03x
Plumstead 29 9.79x
Abingdon St Helen 28 49.00x
Camberwell 27 1.62x
Ashdon 26 347.13x
Drayton 25 451.26x
Saffron Walden 23 42.36x
Ugborough 22 167.94x
Aston 21 1.16x
Fulham London 21 5.56x
Reading St Mary 21 13.42x
St George Hanover 20 5.89x
Steventon 20 243.01x
Tottenham 20 4.82x
Kensington London 19 1.31x
Bermondsey 18 2.32x
Ashampstead 17 553.75x
Bow London 17 5.13x
Hillingdon 17 20.48x
Ottery St Mary 17 47.82x
Plymouth St Andrew 17 4.07x
Portsea 17 1.63x
Radwinter 17 226.06x
Stoke Damerel 17 4.48x
Carshalton 16 32.96x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 3.05x
Stratton 16 100.06x
Wolborough 16 23.35x
Ashprington 15 374.06x
East Knoyle 15 191.82x
Bedminster 14 3.56x
Chesham 14 24.13x
Mile End Old Town 14 3.41x
Paddington London 13 1.36x
Wokingham 13 29.14x
Clifton Hampden 12 388.35x
East Teignmouth 12 54.13x
Erith 12 13.71x
Kingston On Thames 12 3.94x
Nether Hallam 12 3.44x
Southwark Christchurch 12 9.84x
Buckfastleigh 11 43.98x
Chelsea London 11 1.40x
Collierley 11 31.87x
Culham 11 228.69x
Moreton Hampstead 11 78.52x
St Marylebone London 11 0.79x
Bartlow 10 561.80x
Bishopwearmouth 10 1.50x
Brighton 10 1.13x
Clewer 10 12.49x
Eton 10 28.03x
Frodingham 10 67.43x
Gwennap 10 17.99x
Heston 10 11.56x
Long Wittenham 10 199.60x
Newport Pagnell 10 30.39x
North Stoke 10 671.14x
Poplar London 10 2.04x
Radley 10 204.08x
South Brent 10 85.91x
Totnes 10 31.55x
Upton Cum Chalvey 10 15.94x
Chilton 9 365.85x
Hammersmith London 9 1.40x
Ightham 9 80.57x
Limehouse London 9 3.15x
Tilehurst 9 22.80x
Wimbledon 9 6.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 159
Elizabeth 104
Sarah 89
Emma 52
Jane 51
Annie 50
Alice 46
Emily 46
Eliza 45
Ellen 38
Ann 37
Martha 28
Caroline 26
Florence 23
Edith 22
Charlotte 20
Hannah 20
Maria 20
Louisa 19
Susan 19
Ada 18
Harriett 15
Lucy 15
Harriet 12
Rose 12
Agnes 11
Kate 10
Margaret 10
Sophia 10
Fanny 9
Amelia 8
Elizth. 8
Anne 7
Bessie 7
Gertrude 7
Jemima 7
Minnie 7
Rachel 7
Eleanor 6
Rebecca 6
Rhoda 6
Selina 6
Amy 5
Clara 5
Frances 5
Grace 5
Nellie 5
Rosina 5
Catherine 4
Julia 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 176
John 157
George 122
James 107
Thomas 79
Charles 74
Henry 63
Alfred 40
Edward 32
Frederick 29
Arthur 27
Robert 27
Joseph 26
Walter 26
Samuel 25
Richard 21
Harry 17
Albert 16
Frank 14
Ernest 12
Francis 10
Wm. 9
Daniel 8
Benjamin 7
Herbert 6
Isaac 6
Jesse 6
Stephen 6
David 5
Edwin 5
Fredrick 5
Mark 5
Abraham 4
Andrew 4
F. 4
Fredk. 4
Josiah 4
Sidney 4
Chas. 3
Elias 3
Job 3
Mathew 3
Philip 3
Caleb 2
Elizabeth 2
Ephraim 2
Fred 2
Matthew 2
Maurice 2
Ralph 2

FAQ

Woodley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,652 people were recorded with the Woodley surname. That placed it at #1,674 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,991 in 2016. That gives Woodley a modern rank of #1,698.

What does the Woodley surname mean?

From a place name referring to a woodland clearing or meadow.

What does the Woodley map show?

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