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

Woodfaulk, 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 Woodfaulk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woodfaulk in America

Woodfaulk is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woodfaulk surname appeared 117 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 Woodfaulk.

The history of the last name Woodfaulk

The surname Woodfaulk likely originates from England and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a geographical feature or a place. The name is formed from two Old English elements: "wudu," meaning wood or forest, and "falca" or "fealca," meaning an enclosed piece of land or nook. This suggests that the original bearers of this name might have lived by or within a wood in an enclosed area.

It's important to explore similar spellings and related names to understand the evolution of Woodfaulk. Variants such as Woodfalke, Woodfolk, and Woodfolke have been recorded in historical texts. These variants show how the spelling of surnames could change over time due to the lack of standardized spelling and local dialect differences.

Historical references to the surname can be found in various old English records. For instance, a John Woodfalke appears in the 14th-century poll tax records of Yorkshire. This indicates the presence of the surname in northern England during the medieval period. Such tax records are crucial for tracing the distribution and frequency of surnames across regions.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname Woodfaulk include a Richard Woodfolke, who was mentioned in a 15th-century land grant document in Suffolk. This document highlights the socio-economic activities of the Woodfaulk family in medieval England. Another early record is that of Alice Woodfalke, who is found in the church registers of Devon in the early 16th century, suggesting the name had spread to southwestern England as well.

Throughout history, a few notable individuals have borne the surname Woodfaulk. Edward Woodfaulk, born in 1612 and died in 1678, was a notable landowner in Kent whose estate documents provide valuable insights into the family's history. Another significant figure is Thomas Woodfaulk, a 18th-century London merchant known for his involvement in the burgeoning trade networks of the British Empire.

Mary Woodfaulk, born in 1737, was a well-documented midwife in Lancashire, earning recognition for her contributions to local healthcare. By the 19th century, the name had spread beyond England. James Woodfaulk, who emigrated to North America in 1845, became a prominent settler in the United States, contributing to agricultural development in the Midwest.

The surname Woodfaulk, through its historical records and notable individuals, illustrates a rich tapestry of English heritage, marked by geographical origins and socio-economic contributions. The varied spellings and occurrences of the name in different records underscore the dynamic nature of surname evolution over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woodfaulk

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

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 Woodfaulk 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.

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

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

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