NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodruffe

In the 1881 census there were 341 people recorded with the Woodruffe surname, ranking it #8,918 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 212, ranked #18,843, down from #8,918 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Silkstone and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Harrow and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodruffe is 341 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.8%.

1881 census count

341

Ranked #8,918

Modern count

212

2016, ranked #18,843

Peak year

1881

341 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodruffe had 341 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,918 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016, ranked #18,843.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 341 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Woodruffe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodruffe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodruffe 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 218 #9,754
1861 historical 162 #14,310
1881 historical 341 #8,918
1891 historical 280 #11,665
1901 historical 297 #11,721
1911 historical 157 #17,348
1997 modern 201 #17,564
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 217 #17,307
2000 modern 200 #18,209
2001 modern 199 #17,996
2002 modern 197 #18,474
2003 modern 210 #17,559
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 211 #17,520
2006 modern 213 #17,563
2007 modern 218 #17,477
2008 modern 221 #17,495
2009 modern 223 #17,735
2010 modern 213 #18,660
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 214 #18,358
2013 modern 215 #18,598
2014 modern 216 #18,705
2015 modern 217 #18,542
2016 modern 212 #18,843

Geography

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Where Woodruffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Silkstone, Manchester, Standish and Woodbridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Harrow, Wiltshire and Swindon. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Standish Lancashire
5 Woodbridge Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire
2 Harrow 021 Harrow
3 East Cambridgeshire 003 East Cambridgeshire
4 Wiltshire 037 Wiltshire
5 Swindon 024 Swindon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodruffe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodruffe

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Woodruffe is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Woodruffe 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

Woodruffe falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Woodruffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodruffe 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. Lancashire leads with 71 Woodruffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.79x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 71 1.79x
Yorkshire 58 1.75x
Cheshire 30 4.07x
Suffolk 20 4.92x
Cambridgeshire 17 8.05x
Derbyshire 14 2.68x
Staffordshire 13 1.15x
Kent 11 0.97x
Middlesex 11 0.33x
Gloucestershire 10 1.53x
Surrey 10 0.62x
Nottinghamshire 9 2.00x
Sussex 9 1.60x
Leicestershire 8 2.16x
Wiltshire 8 2.71x
Lincolnshire 6 1.12x
Northamptonshire 6 1.91x
Durham 5 0.50x
Monmouthshire 5 2.07x
Shropshire 5 1.73x
Warwickshire 5 0.59x
Hampshire 4 0.59x
Bedfordshire 3 1.74x
Berkshire 1 0.40x
Essex 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 2.52x
Somerset 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hyde in Cheshire leads with 19 Woodruffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.44x.

Place Total Index
Hyde 19 87.44x
Rishton 15 323.28x
Cheetham 12 40.65x
Preston 11 10.39x
Hulme 10 12.10x
Sheffield 10 9.50x
Hunslet 9 17.46x
Woodbridge 9 173.41x
Beccles 8 122.32x
Nottingham St Mary 8 6.88x
St Andrewthe Less 8 33.14x
Barnsley 7 20.53x
Holy Trinity 7 8.80x
Hougham 7 103.40x
Lockwood 7 58.87x
Marple 7 138.34x
Salisbury St Thomas 6 256.41x
Barnes 5 72.78x
Cockerton 5 157.23x
Eckington 5 39.40x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 5 54.29x
Harborne 5 13.85x
Hastings St Mary In The 5 41.67x
Holy Trinity St Mary 5 99.40x
Salford 5 4.29x
Walton Le Dale 5 46.99x
Weedon Beck 5 222.22x
Wellington 5 30.86x
Adlington 4 107.82x
Burton Upon Trent 4 15.19x
Cheltenham 4 7.92x
Derby St Werburgh 4 13.26x
Loughborough 4 23.84x
Prestwold Hoton 4 1142.86x
Saddleworth 4 15.69x
Sidlesham 4 370.37x
Witton 4 80.32x
Bedford St Peter 3 66.82x
Boston 3 18.54x
Brampton 3 41.10x
Coventry St Michael 3 11.10x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 27.22x
Hackney London 3 1.60x
Harlington 3 170.45x
Kirkdale 3 4.51x
Marchington 3 576.92x
Mynyddyslwyn 3 31.55x
Portsea 3 2.24x
Brinnington 2 29.07x
Chepstow 2 48.66x
Chippenham 2 270.27x
Doddington 2 129.03x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 16.71x
Grantham 2 28.78x
Great Smeaton 2 909.09x
Ipswich St Clement 2 19.36x
Penge 2 9.39x
Sculcoates 2 3.82x
Benningholme Grange 1 714.29x
Beverley St Mary 1 20.70x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 8.84x
Birmingham 1 0.36x
Caterham 1 13.93x
Charterhouse Hinton 1 158.73x
Checkley 1 34.25x
Chittoe 1 434.78x
Ewell 1 29.15x
Higher Bebington 1 21.23x
Islington London 1 0.31x
Lonbridge Deverill 1 96.15x
Lower Darwen 1 19.23x
Mangotsfield 1 15.34x
Paddington London 1 0.82x
Reading St Lawrence 1 18.66x
Ripley 1 15.48x
Royal Navy 1 2.94x
Samlesbury 1 114.94x
St George Hanover 1 2.30x
Stockport Etchells 1 63.69x
Tathwell 1 208.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Sarah 10
Ann 8
Annie 7
Eliza 7
Elizabeth 7
Jane 7
Alice 6
Harriet 6
Ellen 5
Maria 5
Martha 5
Emily 4
Fanny 4
Harriett 4
Margaret 4
Ada 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Minnie 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Grace 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Nancy 2
Beatrice 1
Betty 1
Cicely 1
Dora 1
Eade 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Helena 1
Isabella 1
Lelias 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margt. 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 19
Thomas 14
George 12
Charles 7
James 7
Joseph 7
Arthur 6
Albert 4
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Alfred 2
Anthony 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
David 1
Duncan 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Geo.L. 1
Hamilton 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Jabez 1
Jno.W. 1
Josph 1
Lawrence 1
Loftus 1
May 1
Moris 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
Sheldon 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Woodruffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodruffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 341 people were recorded with the Woodruffe surname. That placed it at #8,918 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodruffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016. That gives Woodruffe a modern rank of #18,843.

What does the Woodruffe map show?

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