Find out how popular the last name Woodard is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Woodard.

Woodard, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Woodard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woodard in America

Woodard is the 750th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woodard surname appeared 46,240 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 16 people would have the surname Woodard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woodard to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Woodard

The surname Woodard is of English origin, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "wudu" and "hird," meaning "wood" and "herd" or "keeper," respectively. It originally referred to someone who guarded or tended the woods, likely a forester or woodsman.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where it appears as "Wudehird." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Wodehird" and "Wodehurde" in various county records.

The Woodard surname has a strong association with certain regions of England, particularly the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. These areas were known for their extensive woodlands, which may have contributed to the prevalence of the name in those regions.

Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the Woodard surname. One of the earliest was John Woodard (c. 1490-1556), an English clergyman and chaplain to King Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was John Woodard (1613-1675), an English clergyman and educator who founded several schools in England, including the Woodard Schools.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of early colonial Virginia, with John Woodard (b. 1625) being one of the first settlers to arrive in the colony. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the American colonies and later the United States.

Other notable individuals with the Woodard surname include:

• Thomas Woodard (1767-1853), an American farmer and soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War.
• William Woodard (1806-1889), an English-born Australian explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in the exploration of Western Australia.
• James Woodard (1884-1966), an American blues musician and songwriter known for his work with Memphis Minnie.
• Alphonso Woodard (1925-2021), an American actor and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career.

While the Woodard surname has deep roots in England and the United States, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. Today, it is a name found in many countries, carrying with it a rich history and a connection to the woodlands of old.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woodard

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Woodard.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Woodard was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Woodard has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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