NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodlock

A topographic surname derived from living near a wooded area or estate.

In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Woodlock surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 176, ranked #21,298, up from #21,957 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Upton with Chalvey and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Holytown, Clydesdale and New Stevenston and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodlock is 194 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.6%.

1881 census count

82

Ranked #21,957

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

1998

194 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodlock had 82 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,957 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 176 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Woodlock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodlock surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodlock 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 52 #23,915
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 82 #21,957
1891 historical 130 #20,173
1901 historical 126 #19,970
1911 historical 176 #16,185
1997 modern 192 #18,103
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 182 #19,317
2000 modern 181 #19,360
2001 modern 173 #19,635
2002 modern 189 #18,950
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 174 #19,871
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 172 #20,321
2008 modern 169 #20,745
2009 modern 172 #20,950
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 168 #21,563
2012 modern 171 #21,303
2013 modern 166 #22,075
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Woodlocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Upton with Chalvey, London parishes and Normanton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Holytown, Clydesdale and New Stevenston, Braintree, Shettleston North and Orbiston. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Normanton Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Holytown North Lanarkshire
2 Clydesdale and New Stevenston North Lanarkshire
3 Braintree 004 Braintree
4 Shettleston North Glasgow City
5 Orbiston North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodlock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodlock

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Woodlock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Woodlock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Woodlock 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.

Read profile summary

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

Woodlock is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woodlock falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Woodlock

The surname Woodlock originates from England, particularly from the medieval period around the 12th and 13th centuries. This name has strong ties to the counties of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, which were prominent during the medieval times. The name derives from Old English elements 'wudu,' meaning 'wood,' and 'lac,' meaning 'sport or play.' The combined meaning can be interpreted as 'wooded place for sport or play,' indicating a connection to rural or forested areas where such activities might have taken place.

Woodlock appears in historical records and manuscripts, reflecting its usage over the centuries. One of the earliest recorded examples is found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1190, where a Ralph Wudloch is listed. This confirms the name's early presence in England and its association with specific regions.

The surname has also seen variations in spelling over time, such as Wudloc and Woddlock, which are documented in various medieval archives. These variations are typical of the era, when spelling was not standardized, and surnames often had multiple forms.

John Woodlock, born circa 1290 and died in 1344, was a notable figure in Warwickshire. His name appears in the Subsidy Rolls, a taxation record from Edward I’s reign, indicating his family's significance in local governance.

Another prominent bearer is Thomas Woodlock, born in 1425, mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1483. His involvement in legal disputes over land showcases the name’s association with property and local affairs.

Richard Woodlock, born in 1502, a merchant from Oxfordshire, is documented in the Merchant Guild Records of 1547. His participation in trade during the Tudor period highlights the name's spread and involvement in commerce.

Elizabeth Woodlock, who lived from 1620 to 1692, was an early settler in the American colonies, specifically in Massachusetts. Her emigration reflects the movement of English families to the New World and the establishment of Woodlock as a surname in colonial America.

Lastly, Reverend Samuel Woodlock of Dorset, born in 1655 and died in 1720, was a notable Anglican clergyman. His contributions to local parish records and various theological publications underscore the lasting presence and influence of the Woodlock name in England.

These examples illustrate the enduring history and significance of the Woodlock surname from its medieval origins to various historical periods, reflecting its geographical roots and evolution over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodlock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodlock 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. Yorkshire leads with 27 Woodlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.25x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 27 3.25x
Middlesex 15 1.79x
Lanarkshire 11 4.06x
Lancashire 10 1.00x
Nottinghamshire 5 4.42x
Channel Islands 4 16.10x
Surrey 4 0.98x
Berkshire 2 3.18x
Gloucestershire 2 1.22x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.97x
Derbyshire 1 0.76x
Essex 1 0.60x
Hertfordshire 1 1.73x
Kent 1 0.35x
Oxfordshire 1 1.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Altofts in Yorkshire leads with 11 Woodlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1195.65x.

Place Total Index
Altofts 11 1195.65x
Bothwell 11 149.46x
Bethnal Green London 8 21.95x
Leeds 5 10.65x
Nottingham St Nicholas 5 324.68x
Lambeth 4 5.47x
Shipton In Pocklington 4 3333.33x
St Michaelinthe Vale 4 449.44x
Burnley 3 35.80x
Farnworth 3 50.34x
West Derby 3 10.30x
Acton 2 40.65x
Bristol St Augustine 2 75.47x
Clerkenwell London 2 10.10x
Horton In Bradford 2 15.41x
Old Windsor 2 273.97x
Southcoates 2 43.38x
Whitechapel London 2 24.18x
Bradfield 1 31.25x
Broxbourne 1 86.96x
Hasland 1 74.63x
Holy Trinity 1 5.00x
Orsett 1 232.56x
Preston 1 3.76x
Rochester St Margaret 1 33.11x
Sculcoates 1 7.59x
St Martin In Fields 1 19.92x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 49.51x
Witney 1 114.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Margaret 5
Catherine 3
Jane 3
Anne 2
Elizabeth 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bridget 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Emly 1
Florence 1
Margaretta 1
Norah 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Thomas 5
Harry 4
Michael 4
William 4
Charles 2
Francis 2
Ben 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
George 1
Henry 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Woodlock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodlock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Woodlock surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodlock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Woodlock a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Woodlock surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from living near a wooded area or estate.

What does the Woodlock map show?

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