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

Woodfolk, 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 Woodfolk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woodfolk in America

Woodfolk is the 68770th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woodfolk surname appeared 286 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 Woodfolk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woodfolk 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 Woodfolk

The surname Woodfolk is of Anglo-Saxon origin, first appearing in England during the early medieval period. It is a compound of two Old English words: "wudu," meaning wood or forest, and "folc," meaning people or tribe. Thus, the name can be interpreted as "people of the woods" or "forest folk."

The earliest records of the surname can be found in medieval England, where it was likely used to describe families or groups living in or near wooded areas. The name did not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, but it began to surface in local manorial rolls, tax records, and parish registers in the 13th and 14th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is William Woodfolk, mentioned in the 1296 Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire. In 1327, a John Woodfolk is listed in the Subsidy Rolls for the county of Lincolnshire. These records indicate that the family may have been widespread across various rural regions of England, particularly in the north and east.

Historical references to the name continue into the 16th and 17th centuries. For example, Thomas Woodfolk was recorded as a landowner in Norfolk in 1582. In London, the parish registers of St. Olave's Church mention a marriage between a Henry Woodfolk and Elizabeth Greene in 1604, suggesting that the name had by then spread to urban areas.

Turning to the New World, one prominent individual with the surname was John Woodfolk, an early settler in Virginia during the 17th century. Documentation suggests he was born around 1650 and played a significant role in the local community. Another notable figure is Benjamin Woodfolk, born in the early 18th century, who became a prominent landowner and was known for his military service during the American Revolutionary War.

By the 19th century, the name could be found in various records across the United States, including census reports and military enlistments. In 1820, Richard Woodfolk, born in 1790, was listed as a resident of Tennessee and played a role in state politics. Furthermore, Sarah Woodfolk, born in 1845, became a known abolitionist and played a part in the Underground Railroad.

From these historical accounts, it is evident that the surname Woodfolk has deep roots tracing back to medieval England, with its bearers playing notable roles across centuries and continents. While the name originated in relation to forests or wooded areas, its carriers have historically contributed to society in diverse and impactful ways.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woodfolk

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

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

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

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