NameCensus.

UK surname

Woodward

An English topographic surname denoting someone who lived by or in a wood or forest.

In the 1881 census there were 14,736 people recorded with the Woodward surname, ranking it #270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20,799, ranked #287, down from #270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, St. Helens and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woodward is 22,362 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.1%.

1881 census count

14,736

Ranked #270

Modern count

20,799

2016, ranked #287

Peak year

1999

22,362 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woodward had 14,736 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 20,799 in 2016, ranked #287.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20,726 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Woodward surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woodward surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woodward 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 9,347 #278
1861 historical 9,808 #266
1881 historical 14,736 #270
1891 historical 16,299 #255
1901 historical 18,534 #269
1911 historical 20,726 #216
1997 modern 20,948 #279
1998 modern 22,204 #268
1999 modern 22,362 #269
2000 modern 22,013 #273
2001 modern 21,539 #271
2002 modern 21,890 #273
2003 modern 21,384 #272
2004 modern 21,274 #274
2005 modern 20,911 #276
2006 modern 20,762 #277
2007 modern 20,879 #278
2008 modern 20,902 #279
2009 modern 21,320 #280
2010 modern 21,759 #279
2011 modern 21,398 #280
2012 modern 20,872 #282
2013 modern 21,255 #283
2014 modern 21,292 #283
2015 modern 21,009 #283
2016 modern 20,799 #287

Geography

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Where Woodwards are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, St. Helens, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham and Erewash. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 011 Stroud
2 St. Helens 019 St. Helens
3 Stoke-on-Trent 012 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Nottingham 005 Nottingham
5 Erewash 003 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woodward

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woodward

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Woodward is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Woodward is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Woodward

The surname Woodward originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is an occupational name for a forester or official in charge of a wood or forest. The name is derived from the Old English words "wudu" meaning wood and "weard" meaning guardian or keeper.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Woodward is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded a landowner named Wudard in Gloucestershire. The name appeared in various spellings throughout the Middle Ages, including Wodward, Wodewarde, and Wudewarde.

In the 13th century, a John Woodward was listed as a tenant in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. Another early record is of a Richard Woodward, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

Several notable individuals with the surname Woodward have left their mark in history. John Woodward (1665-1728) was an English naturalist and geologist who made significant contributions to the study of fossils. Thomas Woodward (1801-1852) was an English playwright and actor, known for his play "The Lottery of Life."

Henry Woodward (1832-1921) was a British geologist and palaeontologist, known for his work on fossil crustaceans and molluscs. Samuel Pickworth Woodward (1821-1865) was an English artist and engraver, best known for his illustrations in literary works such as those of Dickens and Thackeray.

John Woodward (1837-1914) was an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and was one of the leading batsmen of his time.

The surname Woodward has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Woodward Green in Essex and Woodward's Hill in Somerset, indicating the historical presence of families bearing this name in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woodward families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woodward 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 1,652 Woodwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.97x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,652 0.97x
Middlesex 1,308 0.91x
Warwickshire 1,199 3.30x
Staffordshire 929 1.91x
Yorkshire 921 0.64x
Gloucestershire 876 3.10x
Nottinghamshire 801 4.12x
Cheshire 686 2.16x
Derbyshire 662 2.93x
Worcestershire 616 3.27x
Surrey 529 0.75x
Kent 458 0.93x
Oxfordshire 363 4.08x
Leicestershire 335 2.10x
Wiltshire 299 2.35x
Durham 274 0.64x
Essex 272 0.96x
Northamptonshire 238 1.76x
Bedfordshire 222 2.98x
Lincolnshire 221 0.96x
Somerset 171 0.74x
Hampshire 165 0.56x
Hertfordshire 163 1.64x
Suffolk 161 0.92x
Buckinghamshire 122 1.40x
Norfolk 116 0.52x
Devon 111 0.37x
Berkshire 107 0.99x
Glamorgan 106 0.42x
Sussex 95 0.39x
Monmouthshire 73 0.70x
Huntingdonshire 66 2.31x
Shropshire 62 0.50x
Dorset 52 0.55x
Flintshire 43 1.11x
Cambridgeshire 41 0.45x
Herefordshire 37 0.63x
Denbighshire 28 0.51x
Cumberland 25 0.20x
Cornwall 21 0.13x
Rutland 20 1.89x
Lanarkshire 18 0.04x
Cardiganshire 17 0.48x
Channel Islands 16 0.37x
Fife 13 0.15x
Northumberland 11 0.05x
Royal Navy 11 0.64x
Isle of Man 10 0.37x
Angus 6 0.04x
Inverness-shire 5 0.12x
Westmorland 4 0.13x
Ayrshire 3 0.03x
Brecknockshire 2 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.03x
Midlothian 2 0.01x
Radnorshire 2 0.17x
Renfrewshire 2 0.02x
Anglesey 1 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 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. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 410 Woodwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.39x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 410 3.39x
Aston 277 2.77x
Nottingham St Mary 265 5.27x
Islington London 157 1.12x
West Bromwich 141 5.06x
St Pancras London 129 1.11x
Camberwell 103 1.12x
Wolverhampton 94 2.51x
Bulwell 93 22.02x
Lambeth 91 0.72x
Kings Norton 88 5.21x
Stoke Upon Trent 88 1.71x
Kensington London 80 1.00x
West Derby 78 1.56x
Basford 77 8.60x
Stinchcombe 74 446.59x
Hackney London 71 0.88x
West Ham 70 1.11x
Westhoughton 70 15.34x
Toxteth Park 69 1.19x
Manchester 68 0.88x
Derby St Werburgh 67 5.14x
Weaverham Cum Milton 66 78.47x
Eccleston In Prescot 64 7.46x
Hammersmith London 62 1.75x
Newington 61 1.15x
Liverpool 59 0.57x
St Marylebone London 59 0.77x
Runcorn 57 7.77x
Leicester St Margaret 56 1.44x
St Lawrence 56 16.57x
Cheltenham 55 2.52x
Church Gresley 55 15.32x
Everton 55 1.01x
Biggleswade 54 22.10x
Chelsea London 54 1.24x
Harborne 53 3.40x
Margate St John Baptist 52 5.78x
Paddington London 50 0.94x
Sheffield 50 1.10x
Stoke 50 69.85x
Easton 47 96.13x
Northill 47 67.34x
Charlton Kings 46 23.52x
Berkeley 44 27.98x
Hulme 44 1.23x
Snenton 44 5.77x
Croydon 43 1.10x
Rowley Regis 43 3.17x
Atherton 42 6.75x
Shoreditch London 42 0.67x
Derby St Alkmund 41 6.06x
Handborough 41 85.77x
Sutton 41 7.15x
Salford 40 0.80x
St George Hanover 40 2.13x
Kirkdale 39 1.36x
Combe 38 142.38x
Parr 36 5.88x
Trowbridge 36 6.39x
Clifton 35 2.45x
Deptford St Paul 35 0.92x
Hinckley 35 9.23x
Windle 35 3.64x
Greenwich 34 1.48x
Sutton In Macclesfield 34 10.30x
Tiverton 34 6.58x
Holy Trinity 33 0.96x
Purton 33 29.10x
Yardley 33 6.85x
Battersea 32 0.60x
Bethnal Green London 32 0.51x
Fulham London 32 1.53x
Kimberworth 32 4.04x
St George In East 32 3.26x
Stroud 32 5.82x
Barrow In Furness 31 1.33x
Brighton 31 0.63x
Leeds 31 0.38x
Mayfield 31 50.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 980
Elizabeth 595
Sarah 550
Ann 279
Jane 266
Emma 263
Eliza 240
Annie 233
Alice 212
Ellen 211
Emily 185
Hannah 166
Martha 125
Harriet 112
Fanny 107
Florence 107
Maria 101
Edith 98
Charlotte 96
Louisa 96
Margaret 93
Ada 88
Clara 80
Kate 72
Caroline 69
Harriett 69
Catherine 67
Anne 62
Frances 54
Agnes 53
Lucy 49
Rose 43
Esther 41
Susan 40
Matilda 38
Rebecca 38
Julia 34
Ruth 32
Amelia 30
Ethel 30
Selina 29
Susannah 29
Gertrude 28
Laura 28
Amy 27
Elizth. 27
Sophia 27
Eleanor 26
Minnie 26
Isabella 24

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 916
John 777
George 544
Thomas 523
James 454
Charles 346
Joseph 302
Henry 280
Alfred 180
Arthur 165
Frederick 151
Samuel 150
Robert 145
Edward 142
Richard 127
Walter 125
Albert 102
Harry 87
Herbert 84
Francis 67
Frank 66
Ernest 65
Wm. 53
Edwin 44
Thos. 33
Isaac 32
Daniel 30
Geo. 28
Benjamin 27
David 26
Fred 20
Stephen 20
Tom 20
Mark 19
Peter 18
Fredk. 17
Fredrick 17
Percy 17
Sidney 17
Adam 16
Frederic 15
Ralph 15
Abraham 14
Jesse 14
Matthew 14
Chas. 13
Enoch 13
Amos 12
Edmund 12
Mathew 11

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 Woodward households.

FAQ

Woodward surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woodward surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14,736 people were recorded with the Woodward surname. That placed it at #270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woodward surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 20,799 in 2016. That gives Woodward a modern rank of #287.

What does the Woodward surname mean?

An English topographic surname denoting someone who lived by or in a wood or forest.

What does the Woodward map show?

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