Find out how popular the first name Woodson has been for the last 46 years (from 1978 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Woodson by gender

Based on the last 46 years of data, Woodson is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 34 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Woodson.

The history of the first name Woodson

The name Woodson is an English surname that has been adopted as a given name. It is a derivation of the Old English words "wudu" and "sunu," meaning "wood" and "son," respectively. This name likely originated in medieval England and was initially used to refer to someone who lived near a wooded area or worked with wood, such as a woodcutter or carpenter.

While the name Woodson does not have a direct connection to ancient texts or religious scriptures, it reflects the longstanding tradition of using occupational surnames as given names in English-speaking cultures. This practice dates back to the Middle Ages when surnames became more common and were often derived from a person's trade or location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Woodson can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and property in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Wudusune," referring to an individual or family residing in a wooded area.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Woodson. One of the most famous is Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), an American historian, author, and scholar known as the "Father of Black History." He founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and is credited with establishing Black History Month.

Another prominent figure with the name Woodson is William Woodson (1580-1644), an English colonist who settled in Virginia in the early 17th century and became a prominent landowner and member of the House of Burgesses, the first legislative assembly in the British colonies.

In the arts, there is Jacqueline Woodson (born 1963), an American writer and author of numerous books for children and young adults, including the award-winning "Brown Girl Dreaming." She has received numerous accolades, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international recognition for children's literature.

In the realm of sports, Woodson is the name of former NBA player Mike Woodson (born 1958), who played for several teams in the 1980s and later became a successful head coach, leading the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks.

Lastly, Woodson is also the name of Constance Baker Woodson (1899-1976), an American educator and civil rights activist who played a crucial role in desegregating public schools in South Carolina and promoting equal educational opportunities for African American students.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Woodson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Woodson, please contact us.

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