NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodrow

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "row of houses by a wood."

In the 1881 census there were 1,851 people recorded with the Woodrow surname, ranking it #2,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,118, ranked #3,054, down from #2,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Whisky Isles, South Norfolk and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodrow is 2,373 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.4%.

1881 census count

1,851

Ranked #2,361

Modern count

2,118

2016, ranked #3,054

Peak year

1998

2,373 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodrow had 1,851 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,118 in 2016, ranked #3,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,249 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Woodrow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodrow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodrow 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 1,096 #2,566
1861 historical 1,117 #2,511
1881 historical 1,851 #2,361
1891 historical 1,940 #2,374
1901 historical 2,249 #2,409
1911 historical 2,129 #2,359
1997 modern 2,302 #2,698
1998 modern 2,373 #2,735
1999 modern 2,373 #2,752
2000 modern 2,367 #2,739
2001 modern 2,333 #2,719
2002 modern 2,340 #2,775
2003 modern 2,199 #2,863
2004 modern 2,190 #2,877
2005 modern 2,136 #2,906
2006 modern 2,098 #2,959
2007 modern 2,147 #2,918
2008 modern 2,134 #2,965
2009 modern 2,158 #3,007
2010 modern 2,190 #3,026
2011 modern 2,166 #3,019
2012 modern 2,093 #3,057
2013 modern 2,110 #3,092
2014 modern 2,154 #3,052
2015 modern 2,130 #3,047
2016 modern 2,118 #3,054

Geography

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Where Woodrows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Govan Combination and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Whisky Isles, South Norfolk, North Norfolk and Bradford. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
2 South Norfolk 014 South Norfolk
3 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
4 North Norfolk 014 North Norfolk
5 Bradford 052 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodrow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodrow

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Woodrow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Woodrow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Woodrow 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

Woodrow is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Woodrow

The surname Woodrow has its origins in England, emerging in the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from places called Woodrow or Woodrowe, which were likely small hamlets or areas of woodland. The prefix "wood" comes from the Old English word "wudu," meaning forest or wood, while the suffix "row" or "rowe" may have referred to a row or line of trees or a clearing in the woods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Woodrow appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented the landholdings and properties of Norman England. The entry mentions a place called "Wuderowe" in Wiltshire, suggesting that the name was already in use by that time.

In the 13th century, a man named William de Woderoue was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272. This early spelling variation highlights the name's locational roots and its connection to wooded areas.

During the 14th century, the Woodrow surname began to spread across England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in various counties. For example, John Wodrowe was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332, while Thomas Wodrow was mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1377.

One notable bearer of the Woodrow name was the Scottish ecclesiastical historian and minister Robert Woodrow (1679-1734). He was born in Paisley and authored several works on church history and theology, including "An Impartial History of the Church and State of Scotland."

In the 19th century, the Woodrow family produced another prominent figure, Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the 28th President of the United States. Born Thomas Woodrow Wilson in Staunton, Virginia, he served as president from 1913 to 1921 and was influential in shaping American foreign policy during and after World War I.

Other historically significant individuals with the surname Woodrow include James Woodrow (1828-1907), a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and theologian who played a role in the development of Southern Presbyterian theology, and Thomas Woodrow (1854-1937), a Scottish footballer who played for several clubs in the late 19th century, including Rangers and Burnley.

While the Woodrow name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and the descendants of those who bore the name in earlier centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodrow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodrow 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. Norfolk leads with 400 Woodrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.38x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 400 14.38x
Middlesex 222 1.23x
Yorkshire 114 0.64x
Devon 107 2.84x
Renfrewshire 101 7.20x
Dorset 87 7.33x
Kent 76 1.23x
Lanarkshire 76 1.30x
Surrey 72 0.82x
Hampshire 69 1.86x
Suffolk 61 2.77x
Gloucestershire 45 1.27x
Lancashire 39 0.18x
Somerset 39 1.34x
Essex 34 0.95x
Sussex 29 0.95x
Cheshire 27 0.68x
Derbyshire 27 0.95x
Midlothian 24 0.99x
Argyllshire 19 3.77x
Cambridgeshire 19 1.66x
Ayrshire 18 1.33x
Lincolnshire 15 0.52x
West Lothian 14 5.14x
Wiltshire 11 0.69x
Berkshire 10 0.74x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.91x
Northamptonshire 8 0.47x
Dunbartonshire 7 1.44x
Durham 7 0.13x
Northumberland 7 0.26x
Carmarthenshire 6 0.79x
Cornwall 6 0.29x
Oxfordshire 6 0.54x
Hertfordshire 5 0.40x
Worcestershire 5 0.21x
Glamorgan 4 0.13x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 1.53x
Roxburghshire 4 1.22x
Royal Navy 4 1.85x
Angus 3 0.18x
Channel Islands 3 0.56x
Denbighshire 3 0.44x
Berwickshire 1 0.46x
Cumberland 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Monmouthshire 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 28 Woodrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.60x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 28 1.60x
Kensington London 28 2.78x
Lowestoft 27 25.93x
Kilbarchan 26 61.03x
Great Yarmouth 25 10.85x
Paisley Low Church 25 56.32x
St Pancras London 25 1.72x
Govan 24 1.66x
Glasgow 22 2.12x
Portsea 19 2.61x
Blofield 18 254.24x
Diss 18 75.47x
Paisley High Church 18 16.12x
Wells Next Sea 18 110.97x
Hackney London 17 1.68x
Heigham 17 11.38x
St Marylebone London 17 1.76x
Carleton Rode 16 332.64x
Chelsea London 16 2.93x
North Bierley 16 16.53x
Christchurch 15 18.65x
Wymondham 15 52.72x
Borthwick 14 129.27x
Bowmore 14 120.69x
St George Hanover 14 5.93x
Uphall 14 46.71x
Bradford 13 2.99x
Bristol St James St Paul 13 10.99x
Bunwell 13 243.90x
Maidstone 13 7.07x
Sharrington 13 970.15x
Thorpe Next Norwich 13 44.08x
Parkstone 12 86.58x
Poole St James 12 26.89x
Stalbridge 12 106.29x
Wisbech St Peter 12 20.88x
Affpuddle 11 364.24x
Barony 11 0.74x
Bedminster 11 4.02x
Camberwell 11 0.95x
Greenwich 11 3.82x
Lambeth 11 0.70x
St Luke London 11 3.79x
West Ham 11 1.39x
Attleborough 10 71.17x
Brandon 10 66.89x
Brighton 10 1.62x
Eltham 10 27.64x
Fulham London 10 3.81x
Great Bircham 10 349.65x
Ormesby 10 20.75x
Palling 10 352.11x
Rockland St Mary 10 363.64x
Shaftesbury St Peter 10 180.51x
Tranmere 10 6.81x
Waxham 10 1098.90x
Abbey 9 4.21x
Bowling 9 5.07x
Exeter St Olave 9 185.19x
Halifax 9 3.42x
Hamilton 9 5.51x
Hartshorn 9 84.11x
Keighley 9 4.71x
Litchurch 9 7.89x
Poplar London 9 2.64x
Salisbury St Thomas 9 70.98x
Stoke Damerel 9 3.41x
Tong 9 25.98x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 4.95x
Branscombe 8 155.04x
Bristol St Augustine 8 13.97x
Bungay Holy Trinity 8 70.73x
Cheadle 8 10.49x
Hartfield 8 82.90x
Honiton 8 38.39x
Redenhall 8 74.01x
Tilney Cum Islington 8 444.44x
Wycombe 8 9.81x
Frensham 7 54.05x
Strood 7 19.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 95
John 82
James 56
George 50
Charles 46
Henry 40
Thomas 29
Robert 26
Edward 25
Frederick 25
Alfred 18
Arthur 17
Walter 17
Albert 15
Samuel 13
Ernest 12
Herbert 12
David 11
Edwin 10
Richard 9
Harry 8
Joseph 8
Frank 7
Fred 7
Benjamin 6
Wm. 6
Geo. 5
Horace 4
Francis 3
Fredk. 3
Jeremiah 3
Jesse 3
Mathew 3
Percy 3
Robt. 3
Abraham 2
Bertie 2
Daniel 2
Elijah 2
Harold 2
Isaac 2
Matthew 2
Stanley 2
Bussey 1
E.Ameed 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Geo.Henry 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Woodrow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodrow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,851 people were recorded with the Woodrow surname. That placed it at #2,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodrow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,118 in 2016. That gives Woodrow a modern rank of #3,054.

What does the Woodrow surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "row of houses by a wood."

What does the Woodrow map show?

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