NameCensus.

UK surname

Woolhead

In the 1881 census there were 204 people recorded with the Woolhead surname, ranking it #12,682 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 211, ranked #18,904, down from #12,682 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Watford and Potsgrove. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woolhead is 281 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.4%.

1881 census count

204

Ranked #12,682

Modern count

211

2016, ranked #18,904

Peak year

1911

281 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woolhead had 204 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,682 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016, ranked #18,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 281 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Woolhead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woolhead surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Woolhead 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 146 #15,628
1881 historical 204 #12,682
1891 historical 230 #13,494
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 281 #11,953
1997 modern 237 #15,809
1998 modern 239 #16,179
1999 modern 238 #16,308
2000 modern 234 #16,470
2001 modern 228 #16,525
2002 modern 239 #16,332
2003 modern 225 #16,808
2004 modern 239 #16,193
2005 modern 221 #17,028
2006 modern 224 #16,990
2007 modern 233 #16,752
2008 modern 227 #17,196
2009 modern 228 #17,486
2010 modern 216 #18,492
2011 modern 212 #18,575
2012 modern 205 #18,909
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 213 #18,883
2015 modern 214 #18,712
2016 modern 211 #18,904

Geography

Back to top

Where Woolheads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Watford, Potsgrove, London parishes and Linslade. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Watford Hertfordshire
3 Potsgrove Bedfordshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Linslade Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 007 Aylesbury Vale
2 Central Bedfordshire 024 Central Bedfordshire
3 Central Bedfordshire 031 Central Bedfordshire
4 Central Bedfordshire 020 Central Bedfordshire
5 Aylesbury Vale 018 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Woolhead

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Woolhead

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Woolhead is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Woolhead 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

Woolhead falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Woolhead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woolhead 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 140 Woolheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 116.39x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 140 116.39x
Middlesex 31 1.56x
Hampshire 11 2.70x
Hertfordshire 8 5.83x
Bedfordshire 4 3.88x
Oxfordshire 4 3.26x
Northamptonshire 2 1.07x
Sussex 2 0.60x
Staffordshire 1 0.15x
Surrey 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wing in Buckinghamshire leads with 87 Woolheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 7837.84x.

Place Total Index
Wing 87 7837.84x
Linslade 15 1271.19x
Soulbury 15 4687.50x
St Pancras London 12 7.49x
Bentworth 9 2368.42x
Loughton 9 4090.91x
Mentmore 7 3333.33x
Acton 5 42.88x
St George Hanover 5 19.25x
Banbury 4 162.60x
Shenley 4 444.44x
Bow London 3 11.84x
Hammersmith London 3 6.12x
Heath Reach 3 410.96x
Tring 3 81.97x
Buckingham 2 81.63x
Cheddington 2 392.16x
Kingsley 2 645.16x
Woolbeding 2 800.00x
Aston Clinton 1 98.04x
Bedford St Paul 1 14.14x
Berkhampstead 1 32.47x
Clapham 1 4.02x
Islington London 1 0.52x
Kensington London 1 0.90x
Northampton St Giles 1 14.03x
Paddington London 1 1.37x
Sedgley 1 4.01x
Shenley Church End 1 769.23x
Thornborough 1 250.00x
Tiffield 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Sarah 11
Ann 8
Eliza 5
Hannah 5
Jane 5
Ellen 4
Amy 3
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Jenny 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Susannah 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Evaline 1
Florance 1
Helen 1
Jennie 1
Julia 1
Lily 1
Louie 1
Maria 1
Mariah 1
Mevey 1
Naomi 1
Olive 1
Orpah 1
Phobe 1
Rebecca 1
Roaslea 1
Rose 1
Rosette 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
Joseph 10
Thomas 8
John 7
Henry 6
George 5
James 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Sidney 2
Ambrouse 1
Arther 1
Bentley 1
Bently 1
Calib 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Mark 1
Noah 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Woolhead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woolhead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 204 people were recorded with the Woolhead surname. That placed it at #12,682 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woolhead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016. That gives Woolhead a modern rank of #18,904.

What does the Woolhead map show?

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