NameCensus.

UK surname

Wooster

From the English place name Worcester, meaning "fort by the Welsh road" or "Roman fort of the Weogora tribe."

In the 1881 census there were 446 people recorded with the Wooster surname, ranking it #7,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 629, ranked #8,388, down from #7,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hampshire, Swindon and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wooster is 815 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.0%.

1881 census count

446

Ranked #7,361

Modern count

629

2016, ranked #8,388

Peak year

1911

815 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wooster had 446 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 629 in 2016, ranked #8,388.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 815 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wooster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wooster surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wooster 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 254 #8,683
1861 historical 277 #9,025
1881 historical 446 #7,361
1891 historical 569 #6,680
1901 historical 703 #6,266
1911 historical 815 #5,400
1997 modern 667 #7,524
1998 modern 679 #7,657
1999 modern 689 #7,612
2000 modern 682 #7,643
2001 modern 674 #7,579
2002 modern 677 #7,711
2003 modern 659 #7,749
2004 modern 650 #7,838
2005 modern 632 #7,958
2006 modern 624 #8,046
2007 modern 613 #8,224
2008 modern 617 #8,228
2009 modern 632 #8,252
2010 modern 661 #8,133
2011 modern 673 #7,937
2012 modern 649 #8,084
2013 modern 655 #8,163
2014 modern 653 #8,224
2015 modern 638 #8,317
2016 modern 629 #8,388

Geography

Back to top

Where Woosters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Lambeth and Harrow-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hampshire, Swindon, Bridgend, Wycombe and Southwark. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Harrow-on-the-Hill Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hampshire 007 East Hampshire
2 Swindon 009 Swindon
3 Bridgend 019 Bridgend
4 Wycombe 007 Wycombe
5 Southwark 025 Southwark

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wooster

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wooster

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

Wooster 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

Wooster falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wooster

The surname Wooster is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "Wudu-ceaster," meaning "wood-town" or "forest-town," referring to a settlement surrounded by or situated near a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named "Wudecestre" in the county of Worcestershire.

The name Wooster is closely linked to the city of Worcester, located in the West Midlands region of England. The city's name evolved from the Old English "Wudu-ceaster" to its modern form over the centuries. It is likely that some early bearers of the Wooster surname hailed from or had ties to this area.

During the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Wudecestre" and "Wodecestre" were commonly used. In the 14th century, spellings like "Wodechester" and "Wodecestr" appeared in historical records. By the 15th century, the spelling had become more standardized, with forms like "Wooster" and "Worcester" emerging.

Notable individuals with the surname Wooster include:

1. Sir Thomas Wooster (c. 1490-1554), an English politician and diplomat who served as Ambassador to France during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. John Wooster (1610-1678), an early settler in New England and one of the founders of the town of Milford, Connecticut.

3. David Wooster (1711-1777), an American soldier who served as a Brigadier General during the American Revolutionary War.

4. Mary Ann Wooster (1787-1859), a British writer and translator known for her work on French literature.

5. John Wooster (1846-1921), an American banker and philanthropist who donated funds for the establishment of Wooster College (now known as The College of Wooster) in Ohio.

The surname Wooster has maintained a presence throughout history, with bearers making contributions in various fields, including politics, military service, literature, and philanthropy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wooster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wooster 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 128 Woosters recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.67x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 128 48.67x
Middlesex 119 2.74x
Surrey 87 4.10x
Kent 18 1.21x
Hertfordshire 14 4.67x
Lancashire 13 0.25x
Northumberland 11 1.70x
Yorkshire 11 0.26x
Berkshire 10 3.06x
Hampshire 8 0.90x
Somerset 7 1.00x
Essex 5 0.58x
Oxfordshire 5 1.86x
Gloucestershire 3 0.35x
Sussex 3 0.41x
Wiltshire 2 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.36x
Devon 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 30 Woosters recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.91x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 30 7.91x
Wycombe 28 142.78x
Princes Risborough 27 767.05x
Camberwell 25 9.00x
West Wycombe 22 616.25x
Wendover 20 704.23x
Hammersmith London 13 12.13x
Harrow 13 195.49x
Beaconsfield 12 491.80x
Colne 12 78.02x
Elswick 10 19.36x
Great Stanmore 10 512.82x
Watford 10 43.01x
Leeds 9 3.70x
Plumstead 9 18.19x
Deptford St Paul 8 6.99x
Wimbledon 8 33.61x
Bradenham 7 2592.59x
Chiswick 7 29.45x
Paddington London 7 4.38x
Walton On Thames 7 71.94x
Bath St Michael 6 169.49x
Hackney London 6 2.46x
Islington London 6 1.42x
Limehouse London 6 12.56x
Penn 6 365.85x
South Mimms 6 100.50x
Whitechapel London 6 13.99x
Croydon 5 4.25x
Thatcham 5 99.40x
Uxbridge 5 100.60x
Bray 4 41.71x
Clapham 4 7.35x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.90x
Nettlebed 4 404.04x
Portsea 4 2.29x
St George In East 4 13.52x
Weeke 4 148.15x
Amersham 3 80.43x
Bisley 3 309.28x
Leyton Low 3 17.18x
Poplar London 3 3.65x
Shoreditch London 3 1.59x
Staines 3 43.54x
Acton 2 7.84x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.06x
Brighton 2 1.35x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 7.03x
Chippenham 2 24.78x
Heston 2 13.84x
Hillingdon 2 14.42x
Holy Trinity 2 1.93x
Kensington London 2 0.83x
West Ham 2 1.05x
Abbots Langley 1 22.47x
Bermondsey 1 0.77x
Bledlow 1 62.89x
Bromley London 1 1.04x
Clifton 1 2.32x
Exeter St David 1 12.92x
Great Missenden 1 30.86x
Harrow On The Hill 1 11.51x
Henley On Thames 1 18.18x
Hove 1 3.11x
Kingswood 1 172.41x
Lewisham 1 1.26x
Litton 1 312.50x
Newbrough 1 86.96x
Newington 1 0.62x
Rotherhithe 1 1.86x
Sandhurst 1 15.82x
St Albans 1 16.29x
St Albans St Stephen 1 38.17x
St George Hanover 1 1.76x
St John Baptist 1 1666.67x
Swavesey 1 56.50x
Tring 1 12.48x
Wandsworth 1 2.39x
Wavertree 1 6.05x
Westminster St John 1 1.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Sarah 19
Eliza 13
Elizabeth 13
Charlotte 12
Jane 11
Louisa 9
Annie 8
Emily 8
Emma 8
Alice 7
Hannah 7
Ada 6
Edith 5
Caroline 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Ann 3
Anne 3
Ellen 3
Flora 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Clara 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Ruth 2
Sussannah 2
Annette 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Elizth. 1
Estelle 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Jenny 1
Julianne 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lizzy 1
Louie 1
Lousia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
George 19
John 14
Thomas 14
Arthur 13
James 11
Charles 10
Frederick 9
Henry 9
Joseph 9
Albert 6
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Robert 4
Edwin 3
Walter 3
Aaron 2
David 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Job 2
Jonathan 2
Mark 2
Bertram 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredc. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Horac 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
J. 1
Jane 1
Leonard 1
Moses 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Timothy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wooster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wooster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 446 people were recorded with the Wooster surname. That placed it at #7,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wooster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 629 in 2016. That gives Wooster a modern rank of #8,388.

What does the Wooster surname mean?

From the English place name Worcester, meaning "fort by the Welsh road" or "Roman fort of the Weogora tribe."

What does the Wooster map show?

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