NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodmore

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a large wooded area.

In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Woodmore surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 143, ranked #24,505, down from #22,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Shanklin and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodmore is 148 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.8%.

1881 census count

80

Ranked #22,225

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

2011

148 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodmore had 80 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Woodmore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodmore surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodmore 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 80 #22,225
1891 historical 91 #25,239
1901 historical 116 #20,933
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 132 #23,230
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 129 #24,019
2005 modern 126 #24,287
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 144 #23,037
2009 modern 145 #23,473
2010 modern 146 #23,921
2011 modern 148 #23,520
2012 modern 146 #23,681
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

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Where Woodmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Shanklin, Newchurch, London parishes and Brading. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight and Torbay. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 Shanklin Hampshire
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Brading Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 007 Isle of Wight
2 Torbay 014 Torbay
3 Isle of Wight 009 Isle of Wight
4 Isle of Wight 001 Isle of Wight
5 Torbay 001 Torbay

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodmore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodmore

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Woodmore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Woodmore household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Woodmore 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

Woodmore is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woodmore falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Woodmore

The surname Woodmore has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is predominantly found in areas such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, regions known for their dense woodlands and rural landscapes during that era. The name is typically considered to derive from the Old English words "wudu," meaning wood, and "mor," meaning moor, or open land. This suggests that the original bearers of the surname likely resided near such landscapes, possibly working as woodmen or living in wood-rich areas adjacent to moorlands.

Early spellings of the surname can be traced back to various medieval records. For instance, a variation of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, albeit in a different guise, reinforcing the idea that the bearers were tied to woodland regions. Other historical texts and parish records from the 12th and 13th centuries also document iterations of the name, reflecting its gradual evolution in spelling and pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Woodmore was Thomas de Woodmore, born around 1203, mentioned in several Yorkshire tax returns from the early 13th century. Another prominent figure was John Woodmore, a landowner in Lancashire, who lived circa 1350. His name appears in local legal documents regarding land transactions and disputes, reflecting the farming and pastoral lifestyle of the era.

By the 16th century, the Woodmore name had become more established in England. William Woodmore, born in 1547 and residing in Essex, was noted for his contributions to local agrarian practices and his involvement in community governance, as documented in regional records. Additionally, the name appears in naval records; Lieutenant James Woodmore, born 1675, served with distinction in the Royal Navy during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the 18th century, the surname extended beyond the confines of England. Samuel Woodmore, born in 1732, can be found in historical records as an emigrant who moved to the American colonies. His descendants played notable roles in the early governance and expansion of settlements in the New World, particularly in Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Moving into the 19th century, Harriet Woodmore made history as an early pioneer in women's education. Born in 1809 in London, her efforts were documented in various educational reforms, marking significant progress in the field. Her contributions are noted in historical accounts of early advocates for women's rights and education in Britain.

The surname Woodmore, thus, carries a rich tapestry of historical significance, linked closely to the natural landscapes and societal evolutions of England from its early days into the modern era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodmore 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. Hampshire leads with 63 Woodmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.91x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 63 38.91x
Kent 9 3.34x
Lincolnshire 3 2.38x
Middlesex 3 0.38x
Royal Navy 1 10.63x
Surrey 1 0.26x
Sussex 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Binsted in Hampshire leads with 12 Woodmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 1935.48x.

Place Total Index
Binsted 12 1935.48x
Newchurch 11 2972.97x
Shanklin 10 2083.33x
Greenwich 9 71.54x
Portsea 7 22.06x
Ryde 7 201.15x
Brading 6 279.07x
Godshill 4 1081.08x
Fishtoft 3 1200.00x
Whippingham 3 243.90x
Camberwell 1 1.98x
Farnborough 1 58.82x
Newport 1 113.64x
Paddington London 1 3.44x
Romsey Infra 1 181.82x
Royal Navy 1 12.42x
St George Hanover 1 9.70x
Westbourne 1 151.52x
Westminster St John 1 10.40x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Henry 5
Charles 3
James 3
Frederick 2
John 2
Augustus 1
Clemet 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Frank 1
George 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isac 1
Jas.M. 1
Jeremiah 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Morris 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Woodmore households.

FAQ

Woodmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Woodmore surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Woodmore a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Woodmore surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a large wooded area.

What does the Woodmore map show?

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