NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodroffe

A locational surname derived from a habitation place name containing the Old English elements 'wudu' (wood) and 'hrofe' (roof or thatch).

In the 1881 census there were 613 people recorded with the Woodroffe surname, ranking it #5,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 824, ranked #6,742, down from #5,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Erewash and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodroffe is 941 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.4%.

1881 census count

613

Ranked #5,735

Modern count

824

2016, ranked #6,742

Peak year

1911

941 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodroffe had 613 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 824 in 2016, ranked #6,742.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 941 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Woodroffe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodroffe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodroffe 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 501 #4,984
1861 historical 425 #6,043
1881 historical 613 #5,735
1891 historical 699 #5,606
1901 historical 853 #5,345
1911 historical 941 #4,775
1997 modern 858 #6,191
1998 modern 892 #6,203
1999 modern 904 #6,182
2000 modern 892 #6,215
2001 modern 865 #6,253
2002 modern 867 #6,372
2003 modern 832 #6,443
2004 modern 818 #6,546
2005 modern 788 #6,681
2006 modern 772 #6,826
2007 modern 771 #6,899
2008 modern 761 #7,031
2009 modern 788 #6,976
2010 modern 796 #7,061
2011 modern 797 #6,974
2012 modern 789 #6,917
2013 modern 814 #6,844
2014 modern 818 #6,851
2015 modern 824 #6,769
2016 modern 824 #6,742

Geography

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Where Woodroffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, South Holland, Doncaster and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 008 Derbyshire Dales
2 Erewash 007 Erewash
3 South Holland 011 South Holland
4 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
5 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodroffe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodroffe

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Woodroffe 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

Woodroffe is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woodroffe falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Woodroffe

Woodroffe is a surname with deep roots in England, specifically emerging during the medieval period. It is most commonly found in the northern counties, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "wudu," meaning wood, and "ræf," an old term related to a council or assembly. This suggests that the original bearers of the name could have been officials or leaders within a forested area or perhaps lived near assemblies held in wooded areas.

The Woodroffe surname is first recorded in historical documents during the 13th century. One early instance can be found in the "Feet of Fines" for Yorkshire, where a John Woodrofe is mentioned in 1219. The surname appears in a variety of spellings over the centuries, including Woodruffe, Woodroofe, and Woodraf. Over time, the name became more standardized as Woodroffe.

Another notable historical record of the name appears in the "Hundred Rolls" of 1273, a census-like survey ordered by Edward I. Here, a Robertus Woderof is listed in Cambridgeshire. The variations in spelling reflect the evolving nature of the English language and regional dialects during the medieval period.

One of the earliest prominent individuals with the surname is Richard Woodroffe of Wolley, Yorkshire, who lived in the early 16th century. His son, Nicholas Woodroffe (circa 1495-1558), served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1579, indicating the family's rise in social and economic status. Nicholas's leadership during a period of significant growth in London's economy highlights the increasing prominence of the Woodroffe surname.

Another important figure is Sir George Woodroffe, born around 1650, who was a noted lawyer and politician active during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He held various legal positions and his tenure as a Member of Parliament for York from 1695 to 1701 reflects the family's continued influence.

In addition to these earlier records, the name also features in ecclesiastical circles. John George Woodroffe (1845-1936), a notable British oriental scholar, made significant contributions to the understanding of Hinduism and Sanskrit, authoring several key texts that remain influential today.

While tracing these historical bearers, the Woodroffe name also appears in place names. For example, Woodroffe Hill in Dorset, England, suggests areas where families bearing the name settled or held influence. Over centuries, the name has demonstrated an enduring legacy, with descendants continuing to make notable contributions in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodroffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodroffe 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 123 Woodroffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 123 2.10x
Wiltshire 54 10.42x
Warwickshire 48 3.25x
Staffordshire 44 2.22x
Surrey 43 1.51x
Leicestershire 35 5.38x
Derbyshire 28 3.05x
Nottinghamshire 27 3.42x
Cambridgeshire 25 6.73x
Lancashire 22 0.32x
Essex 21 1.81x
Gloucestershire 20 1.74x
Sussex 20 2.02x
Suffolk 18 2.52x
Northamptonshire 15 2.72x
Kent 10 0.50x
Lincolnshire 8 0.85x
Durham 6 0.34x
Somerset 6 0.64x
Berkshire 5 1.14x
Shropshire 4 0.79x
Yorkshire 4 0.07x
Hampshire 3 0.25x
Worcestershire 3 0.39x
Dorset 2 0.52x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.72x
Brecknockshire 1 0.85x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 21 Woodroffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.71x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 21 6.71x
Upavon 21 2164.95x
Aston 20 4.91x
Mile End Old Town 19 20.53x
Birmingham 17 3.45x
Bury St Edmunds St James 15 78.66x
Kensington London 12 3.68x
Radford 12 29.90x
Coventry St Michael 11 23.16x
Islington London 11 1.94x
Loughborough 11 37.29x
Isleham 10 293.26x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 4.77x
Colchester St Peter 9 194.38x
Hammersmith London 9 6.23x
Quorndon 9 246.58x
Rotherhithe 9 12.42x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 8 49.41x
Hastings St Leonards 8 55.06x
Kingston On Thames 8 11.66x
Lambeth 8 1.57x
Peterborough 8 20.04x
Shadwell London 8 48.75x
Trowbridge 8 34.90x
All Cannings 7 693.07x
Broughton In Salford 7 11.00x
Burton Extra 7 61.67x
Hulme 7 4.82x
Long Eaton 7 57.76x
Paddington London 7 3.25x
St Pancras London 7 1.48x
Wolstanton Thursfield 7 291.67x
Bathwick 6 57.47x
Burton Upon Trent 6 12.96x
Camberwell 6 1.60x
Chesterfield 6 17.44x
Derby St Alkmund 6 21.81x
Ewell 6 99.50x
Leicester St Margaret 6 3.79x
Stockton On Tees 6 7.14x
Woolaston 6 344.83x
Devizes St John 5 128.53x
Friern Barnet 5 38.73x
Rugeley 5 35.21x
Swindon 5 12.43x
Wellingborough 5 18.03x
Brighton 4 2.01x
Checkley 4 77.82x
Costock 4 645.16x
Great Horkesley 4 251.57x
Horfield 4 34.57x
Madeley 4 21.54x
Maidstone 4 6.71x
Nether Hallam 4 5.09x
Shoreditch London 4 1.57x
Soham 4 50.06x
Stanford On Soar 4 1904.76x
Westminster St James 4 6.64x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.18x
Burton Overy 3 352.94x
Burwash 3 65.36x
Colchester St Giles 3 26.25x
East Leake 3 157.89x
Edmonton 3 6.35x
Ilkeston 3 11.66x
Manthorpe Cum Little 3 41.84x
Salford 3 1.47x
Scamblesby 3 410.96x
Spondon 3 84.99x
Uttoxeter 3 29.62x
Westbury On Trym 3 7.70x
Westhampnett 3 285.71x
Winkfield 3 41.10x
Winterbourne Gunner 3 882.35x
Worcester St Nicholas 3 82.64x
Bakewell 2 39.84x
Harrow On The Hill 2 17.08x
Loddington 2 689.66x
Oundle 2 32.47x
Wilsford 2 270.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Elizabeth 26
Sarah 22
Annie 11
Emily 11
Emma 11
Alice 9
Jane 8
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Susan 7
Clara 6
Eliza 6
Hannah 6
Harriet 5
Maria 5
Martha 5
Amelia 4
Amy 4
Charlotte 4
Florence 4
Gertrude 4
Mabel 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Frances 3
Matilda 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Jannette 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Maud 2
Priscilla 2
Adelene 1
Alberta 1
Annette 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Elizath.J. 1
Elizth. 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Zoide 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
John 35
George 18
Charles 17
Thomas 16
James 15
Arthur 12
Henry 11
Joseph 10
Albert 8
Alfred 6
Daniel 6
Frank 6
Herbert 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Francis 5
Frederick 5
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Percy 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Fredrick 2
Hubert 2
Nicholas 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Basil 1
Chs. 1
Clarance 1
Cyril 1
Danl. 1
Ellis 1
Fred. 1
Godfrey 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Newson 1
Oliver 1
Paul 1
Robt. 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Woodroffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodroffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 613 people were recorded with the Woodroffe surname. That placed it at #5,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodroffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 824 in 2016. That gives Woodroffe a modern rank of #6,742.

What does the Woodroffe surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a habitation place name containing the Old English elements 'wudu' (wood) and 'hrofe' (roof or thatch).

What does the Woodroffe map show?

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