NameCensus.

UK surname

Woolacott

In the 1881 census there were 205 people recorded with the Woolacott surname, ranking it #12,643 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 266, ranked #16,094, down from #12,643 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Iddesleigh, Tormoham with Torquay and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Sedgemoor and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woolacott is 322 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.8%.

1881 census count

205

Ranked #12,643

Modern count

266

2016, ranked #16,094

Peak year

1911

322 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woolacott had 205 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,643 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 266 in 2016, ranked #16,094.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 322 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Woolacott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woolacott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woolacott 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 146 #13,157
1861 historical 120 #18,255
1881 historical 205 #12,643
1891 historical 227 #13,629
1901 historical 267 #12,587
1911 historical 322 #10,873
1997 modern 275 #14,335
1998 modern 279 #14,592
1999 modern 288 #14,346
2000 modern 286 #14,385
2001 modern 294 #13,896
2002 modern 289 #14,341
2003 modern 282 #14,410
2004 modern 273 #14,804
2005 modern 278 #14,511
2006 modern 284 #14,396
2007 modern 288 #14,428
2008 modern 292 #14,403
2009 modern 298 #14,480
2010 modern 297 #14,841
2011 modern 288 #15,009
2012 modern 274 #15,498
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 282 #15,537
2015 modern 271 #15,881
2016 modern 266 #16,094

Geography

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Where Woolacotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Iddesleigh, Tormoham with Torquay, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes and New Forest (Lady Cross Walk, Whitley Ridge Walk, Rhinefield Walk, Wilverley Walk, Holmesley Walk, Br. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Sedgemoor, Mid Devon and South Somerset. 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 Iddesleigh Devon
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 New Forest (Lady Cross Walk, Whitley Ridge Walk, Rhinefield Walk, Wilverley Walk, Holmesley Walk, Br Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 009 North Devon
2 Sedgemoor 005 Sedgemoor
3 Mid Devon 011 Mid Devon
4 North Devon 007 North Devon
5 South Somerset 008 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woolacott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woolacott

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

Woolacott is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woolacott falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Woolacott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woolacott 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. Devon leads with 138 Woolacotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.15x.

County Total Index
Devon 138 33.15x
Middlesex 19 0.95x
Glamorgan 10 2.87x
Somerset 8 2.49x
Surrey 5 0.51x
Cornwall 4 1.77x
Gloucestershire 4 1.02x
Kent 4 0.59x
Lancashire 4 0.17x
Hampshire 3 0.73x
Wiltshire 3 1.70x
Pembrokeshire 2 3.15x
Northamptonshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. High Bickington in Devon leads with 16 Woolacotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3404.26x.

Place Total Index
High Bickington 16 3404.26x
Swimbridge 11 1309.52x
Landkey 10 2439.02x
Exeter St Sidwell 9 94.44x
Tormoham 9 51.11x
Ashburton 7 351.76x
Barnstaple 7 107.20x
Barwick 7 2187.50x
Chittlehampton 7 679.61x
Iddesleigh 7 2500.00x
Newton Nottage 7 729.17x
Crediton 6 152.28x
Kenn 6 923.08x
Shebbear 6 967.74x
St George Hanover 6 22.99x
Little Torrington 5 1351.35x
Bristol St George 4 22.05x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 4 754.72x
Deptford St Paul 4 7.60x
Hammersmith London 4 8.12x
Morwenstow 4 714.29x
Winkleigh 4 476.19x
Atherington 3 857.14x
Lambeth 3 1.72x
Oldham 3 3.92x
Ryde 3 34.09x
Sampford Courtenay 3 483.87x
Stratton St Margaret 3 110.70x
Kenton 2 152.67x
Mile End Old Town 2 6.34x
Pilton 2 145.99x
St Giles In The Wood 2 322.58x
Buckland West 1 400.00x
Camberwell 1 0.78x
Deene 1 666.67x
Dolton 1 196.08x
Edmonton 1 6.21x
Exeter St Edmund 1 111.11x
Filleigh 1 434.78x
Great Torrington 1 42.37x
Hackney London 1 0.89x
Hornsey 1 3.95x
Hubberston 1 107.53x
Huish 1 1250.00x
Kensington London 1 0.90x
Littleham 1 32.89x
Liverpool 1 0.69x
Long Ashton 1 62.50x
Monkleigh 1 270.27x
Newcastle Higher 1 42.37x
Newington 1 1.35x
Oystermouth 1 37.17x
Pembroke St Mary 1 12.22x
Roborough 1 357.14x
St George Bloomsbury 1 8.72x
St Pancras London 1 0.62x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.43x
Swansea Town 1 3.50x
Warkleigh 1 625.00x
Westleigh 1 294.12x
Westminster St 1 13.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 18
Mary 17
Sarah 6
Emma 5
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Ann 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Emily 2
Grace 2
Agnes 1
Alethea 1
Alice 1
Alma 1
Almira 1
Amilia 1
Bessie 1
C.A. 1
Dora 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Laura 1
Lena 1
Lora 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Nora 1
S.E. 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 18
James 8
George 7
Henry 6
Charles 5
Thomas 5
Alfred 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Alexander 1
Amiel 1
Anthony 1
Edward 1
Elisha 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Norman 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1
W. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Woolacott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woolacott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 205 people were recorded with the Woolacott surname. That placed it at #12,643 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woolacott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 266 in 2016. That gives Woolacott a modern rank of #16,094.

What does the Woolacott map show?

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