NameCensus.

UK surname

Woolway

In the 1881 census there were 164 people recorded with the Woolway surname, ranking it #14,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 228, ranked #17,936, down from #14,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Witheridge, Thelbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Teignbridge and West Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woolway is 255 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.0%.

1881 census count

164

Ranked #14,624

Modern count

228

2016, ranked #17,936

Peak year

1999

255 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woolway had 164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016, ranked #17,936.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 240 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Woolway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woolway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woolway 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 126 #17,569
1881 historical 164 #14,624
1891 historical 208 #14,496
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 240 #13,281
1997 modern 236 #15,852
1998 modern 249 #15,720
1999 modern 255 #15,599
2000 modern 242 #16,101
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 249 #15,855
2003 modern 245 #15,822
2004 modern 252 #15,618
2005 modern 237 #16,244
2006 modern 240 #16,177
2007 modern 239 #16,449
2008 modern 242 #16,432
2009 modern 236 #17,103
2010 modern 241 #17,186
2011 modern 233 #17,426
2012 modern 243 #16,839
2013 modern 239 #17,307
2014 modern 235 #17,619
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 228 #17,936

Geography

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Where Woolways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Witheridge, Thelbridge, St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone and Newton St Cyre. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd, Teignbridge, West Somerset, Kingston upon Hull and Cornwall. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Witheridge, Thelbridge Devon
4 St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone Devon
5 Newton St Cyre Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 009 Gwynedd
2 Teignbridge 008 Teignbridge
3 West Somerset 003 West Somerset
4 Kingston upon Hull 002 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Cornwall 022 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woolway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Woolway

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Woolway is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Woolway is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Woolway falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Woolway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woolway 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 84 Woolways recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.54x.

County Total Index
Devon 84 25.54x
Glamorgan 26 9.45x
Gloucestershire 19 6.13x
Middlesex 14 0.89x
Somerset 8 3.15x
Kent 5 0.93x
Surrey 3 0.39x
Royal Navy 1 5.31x
Shropshire 1 0.73x
Wiltshire 1 0.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chulmleigh in Devon leads with 12 Woolways recorded in 1881 and an index of 1600.00x.

Place Total Index
Chulmleigh 12 1600.00x
Burrington 9 2142.86x
Pilton 9 825.69x
Cardiff St Mary 8 52.77x
Bitton Oldland 7 220.82x
Twerton 7 267.18x
Marystow 6 2857.14x
Newton St Cyres 6 1304.35x
Westbury On Trym 6 57.14x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 48.40x
East Worlington 5 4545.45x
Exeter St Thomas The 5 149.25x
Exminster 5 423.73x
Marden 5 396.83x
St Anne Soho London 5 55.43x
St Pancras London 5 3.93x
Coedfrank 4 209.42x
Michaelstone Super Avon 4 134.23x
St George Hanover 4 19.39x
Swansea Town 4 17.73x
Aberavon 3 118.58x
Calverleigh 3 7500.00x
Exeter St David 3 106.76x
Lapford 3 937.50x
Llansamlet Higher 3 146.34x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 3 447.76x
Withycombe Rawleigh 3 175.44x
Bradninch 2 215.05x
Lambeth 2 1.45x
Barnstaple 1 19.38x
Camberwell 1 0.99x
Dawlish 1 40.82x
East Knoyle 1 212.77x
Exeter Heavitree 1 40.82x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 77.52x
Exeter St Paul 1 153.85x
Lidford 1 67.57x
Marshfield 1 120.48x
Morchard Bishop 1 144.93x
Royal Navy 1 6.21x
Shrewsbury St Julian 1 29.59x
Tavistock 1 26.67x
Tiverton 1 17.64x
Walcot 1 7.38x
Witheridge 1 181.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 7
Jane 5
Alice 4
Emma 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Rosina 3
Ann 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elenior 1
Eliza 1
Elizbh. 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Isabella 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Paulina 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 13
Thomas 8
George 6
James 4
Henry 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Eli 2
Jno. 2
Robert 2
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Hy. 1
Lewis 1
Phillip 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Wm.George 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Woolway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woolway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 164 people were recorded with the Woolway surname. That placed it at #14,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woolway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016. That gives Woolway a modern rank of #17,936.

What does the Woolway map show?

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