NameCensus.

UK surname

Woolard

An English occupational surname referring to a wool inspector, trader, or herdsman.

In the 1881 census there were 430 people recorded with the Woolard surname, ranking it #7,569 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 298, ranked #14,801, down from #7,569 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mildenhall, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Clermiston and Drumbrae, Ashford and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woolard is 430 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.7%.

1881 census count

430

Ranked #7,569

Modern count

298

2016, ranked #14,801

Peak year

1881

430 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woolard had 430 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,569 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016, ranked #14,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 430 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Woolard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woolard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woolard 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 246 #8,891
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 430 #7,569
1891 historical 349 #9,857
1901 historical 374 #9,930
1911 historical 400 #9,280
1997 modern 342 #12,379
1998 modern 352 #12,489
1999 modern 331 #13,106
2000 modern 328 #13,129
2001 modern 309 #13,487
2002 modern 312 #13,639
2003 modern 289 #14,158
2004 modern 293 #14,082
2005 modern 284 #14,306
2006 modern 286 #14,322
2007 modern 277 #14,818
2008 modern 282 #14,748
2009 modern 291 #14,742
2010 modern 307 #14,485
2011 modern 310 #14,292
2012 modern 312 #14,131
2013 modern 313 #14,299
2014 modern 306 #14,647
2015 modern 304 #14,617
2016 modern 298 #14,801

Geography

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Where Woolards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mildenhall, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes, Bottisham and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Clermiston and Drumbrae, Ashford, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Portobello and Medway. 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 Mildenhall Suffolk
2 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bottisham Cambridgeshire
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Clermiston and Drumbrae City of Edinburgh
2 Ashford 013 Ashford
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 008 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Portobello City of Edinburgh
5 Medway 026 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woolard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woolard

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Woolard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Woolard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Woolard is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Woolard is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woolard falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Woolard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Woolard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Woolard

The surname Woolard is of English origin, with roots that can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Dorset, where it was derived from the Old English words "wulf" meaning wolf and "geard" meaning yard or enclosure, suggesting a connection to a homestead or farm associated with wolves.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1190, where a Richard Wulvard is mentioned. This variation in spelling highlights the fluid nature of surnames during the medieval period, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciations.

In the 13th century, the Woolard name appeared in various records across southern England, particularly in the counties of Somerset and Dorset. One notable entry is from the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1243, which mentions a Henry Wolvard as a landholder.

The Woolard surname gained prominence in the 14th century, with several individuals bearing the name appearing in historical records. John Woolard, born around 1320 in Dorset, was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry. Another notable figure was William Woolard, born in Somerset in 1375, who held the position of bailiff in the nearby town of Yeovil.

As the centuries progressed, the Woolard name spread across England, with various spellings emerging, such as Wollard, Woollard, and Wulward. One remarkable individual from this period was Sir Thomas Woolard (1545-1612), a notable military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Anglo-Spanish War.

In the 17th century, the Woolard surname found its way across the Atlantic, with members of the family settling in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of John Woolard, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and established a successful plantation in the Tidewater region.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, several notable individuals bearing the Woolard surname emerged. These include Thomas Woolard (1732-1810), a prominent merchant and landowner in North Carolina, and William Woolard (1795-1874), a pioneer and influential figure in the settlement of Indiana.

While the Woolard surname has undergone various changes in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the rural landscapes of southern England, where it was closely associated with the imagery of wolves and their enclosures or homesteads.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woolard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woolard 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. Essex leads with 85 Woolards recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Essex 85 10.27x
Suffolk 70 13.70x
Middlesex 63 1.50x
Cambridgeshire 45 16.94x
Surrey 40 1.96x
Hertfordshire 26 8.99x
Yorkshire 14 0.34x
Durham 12 0.96x
Warwickshire 12 1.13x
Midlothian 10 1.78x
Sussex 9 1.27x
Kent 8 0.56x
Lancashire 8 0.16x
Northamptonshire 8 2.03x
Angus 5 1.29x
Cheshire 5 0.54x
Bedfordshire 4 1.84x
Hampshire 3 0.35x
Norfolk 2 0.31x
Radnorshire 1 2.96x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mildenhall in Suffolk leads with 21 Woolards recorded in 1881 and an index of 386.74x.

Place Total Index
Mildenhall 21 386.74x
Bocking 15 301.20x
Islington London 14 3.44x
West Ham 13 7.11x
Bottisham 12 530.97x
Halstead 12 124.22x
Brandon Byshottles 11 70.38x
Lambeth 10 2.73x
Sproughton 9 1011.24x
St Marylebone London 9 4.02x
Berkswell 8 382.78x
Furneux Pelham 8 975.61x
Kirby Le Soken 8 672.27x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.84x
Bildeston 7 625.00x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 7 179.95x
North Ferriby 7 1029.41x
Southwark Christchurch 7 35.62x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 8.29x
Walthamstow 7 23.49x
Ware 7 84.44x
West Wickham 7 1060.61x
Weston Colville 7 933.33x
Ardleigh 6 260.87x
Brighton 6 4.21x
Croydon 6 5.29x
Depden 6 1818.18x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 41.90x
Liverpool 6 1.98x
Bishop Stortford 5 51.76x
Camberwell 5 1.87x
Cheshunt 5 49.46x
Dundee 5 3.45x
Hornsey 5 9.43x
Aston 4 1.37x
Bury St Edmunds St James 4 29.30x
Great Parndon 4 563.38x
Kensington London 4 1.72x
Kettering 4 25.06x
Landbeach 4 547.95x
Pentlow 4 952.38x
Poplar London 4 5.05x
Shenfield 4 186.05x
St Pancras London 4 1.18x
Staplehurst 4 170.21x
Tichmarsh 4 300.75x
Wymington 4 563.38x
Acton 3 12.20x
Birkenhead 3 4.06x
Bromley London 3 3.25x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 3 22.57x
Ipswich St Clement 3 23.09x
Kilmiston 3 1200.00x
Shepreth 3 576.92x
Stetchworth 3 344.83x
Tottenham 3 4.49x
Battersea 2 1.30x
Bramford 2 104.17x
Ecclesfield 2 6.56x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 8.00x
Great Bardfield 2 147.06x
Grundisburgh 2 169.49x
Hammersmith London 2 1.94x
Kedington 2 148.15x
Leyton Low 2 11.88x
Liscard 2 11.99x
Lofthouse 2 32.21x
Newington 2 1.29x
Polstead 2 168.07x
Ramsey 2 183.49x
St Andrewthe Less 2 6.59x
Stedham 2 256.41x
Stowmarket 2 33.90x
Tattingstone 2 253.16x
Tonbridge 2 3.87x
Bentley 1 172.41x
Great Burstead 1 33.22x
Harpham 1 285.71x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 15.63x
Newmarket All Sts 1 51.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 25
James 22
William 22
George 15
Charles 14
Thomas 10
Alfred 9
Arthur 6
Robert 6
Daniel 5
Edward 5
Harry 5
Frank 4
Fred 4
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Chas. 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Joseph 2
Joshua 2
Reuben 2
Basel 1
Edgar 1
Elias 1
Erasmus 1
Ernest 1
Eward 1
Golden 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jonathan 1
Martin 1
Meshack 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Sampson 1
Samson 1
Shadrack 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Woolard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woolard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 430 people were recorded with the Woolard surname. That placed it at #7,569 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woolard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016. That gives Woolard a modern rank of #14,801.

What does the Woolard surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a wool inspector, trader, or herdsman.

What does the Woolard map show?

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