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

Woodbridge, 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 Woodbridge surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woodbridge in America

Woodbridge is the 27354th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woodbridge surname appeared 883 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Woodbridge.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woodbridge 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 Woodbridge

The surname Woodbridge originates from England and dates back to the Middle Ages, approximately around the 13th century. It is considered a topographical surname, meaning it was derived from a geographical feature of the landscape. Specifically, it combines the Old English words "wudu" meaning wood or forest, and "brycge" meaning bridge. This indicates that the original bearers of the name lived near or around a bridge that was close to a wooded area.

Woodbridge as a place name can be traced to several locations in England, with prominent examples in Suffolk and Gloucestershire. The Suffolk town of Woodbridge is notably mentioned in historical records dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Wudebrigg". Through various evolutions in spelling over centuries, the name settled as Woodbridge.

Historical references to the surname appear in medieval records. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is from the County of Somerset, where a Robert de Wodebrugge was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. This supports the understanding that the surname was already established by the early 14th century.

Famous bearers of the surname Woodbridge span several centuries. The Reverend Benjamin Woodbridge (1622–1684) was a notable figure, being the first graduate of Harvard College in 1642 and later a prominent Puritan minister. Thomas Woodbridge (1564–1612), an English clergyman and author, made contributions to religious literature in his time.

In the realm of politics, William Woodbridge (1780–1861) was a prominent American politician who served as the Governor of Michigan from 1840 to 1841. He also had a significant career as a U.S. Senator. Wilfred Woodbridge (1897–1938), a lesser-known but notable individual, served as a pioneering aviator in early British aviation history.

In more recent history, Woodbridge Nathan Ferris (1853–1928), who shares Woodbridge as part of his middle name, was an American educator and politician, serving as the governor of Michigan and a U.S. Senator, reflecting the recurring prominence of the name in political circles.

The history of the surname Woodbridge reflects both its geographical origins in England and its widespread adoption across different regions. The name has been borne by numerous historical figures contributing to various fields, etching its place in history as a surname of note and distinction.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woodbridge

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

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 Woodbridge 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 Woodbridge 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 Woodbridge was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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