Woodin last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Woodin

A surname denoting someone who lived near or worked with woods.

Woodin, 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 Woodin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woodin in America

Woodin is the 20434th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woodin surname appeared 1,300 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 Woodin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woodin 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 20434 16954 18.62%
Count 1,300 1,547 -17.35%
Proportion per 100k 0.44 0.57 -25.74%

The history of the last name Woodin

The surname Woodin is believed to have its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is most commonly associated with the areas around the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The name is a variant of the more common surname Wooden, which itself is derived from Old English words like wudu meaning wood and the suffix -en meaning of or belonging to. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a wood or worked in the woodlands.

The surname appears in historical records as early as the 13th century. One of the earliest references can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where the name Henry de Wodyn is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already established during this period, being connected to land ownership or specific locales often featuring wooded areas. This association with woodland is further supported by early records showing variant spellings such as Woden and Wodyn.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with this surname is John Woodin, found in the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire in 1379. The records around this period are considered vital as they shed light on the distribution and proliferation of the surname across England. They affirm that the name Woodin was already in use and had begun to spread.

Historical documents such as wills and property records from the 15th and 16th centuries make mention of another notable individual, Thomas Woodin, who was a landowner in Lincolnshire during the late 1400s. These texts contribute to a deeper understanding of the surname's historical context and social standing.

The 17th century saw the name Woodin continue to appear in legal documents. Elizabeth Woodin, recorded in a marriage contract in 1623, is one such example. These records indicate that the name had achieved a level of prominence and was carried forth through familial lines, continuing to be used over generations.

A noteworthy figure in more recent historical context is James Woodin, born in 1809 and died in 1895. He was an influential figure in the industrial era and contributed significantly to the development of rural industries in his locale. He exemplifies how the surname persisted and evolved beyond its medieval origins to adapt to modern times.

In the 19th century, George Woodin, another prominent individual born in 1832 and active in civic duties, is often cited in local government records. His contributions to public service and the administrative work of his time demonstrate the enduring nature of the surname and its associated legacy.

The surname Woodin has maintained its presence through centuries, signifying a rich history tied closely to English heritage and the natural landscapes that defined the lives of its earliest bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woodin

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

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 Woodin was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.92% 1,221
Non-Hispanic Black Only 1.77% 23
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.54% 7
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.38% 5
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.69% 22
Hispanic Origin 1.69% 22

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 Woodin has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 93.92% 94.38% -0.49%
Black 1.77% 1.29% 31.37%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.54% 0.58% -7.14%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.38% 0.78% -68.97%
Two or More Races 1.69% 1.87% -10.11%
Hispanic 1.69% 1.10% 42.29%

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

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

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"Woodin last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/woodin-surname-popularity/.

"Woodin last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/woodin-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Woodin last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/woodin-surname-popularity/.

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