Wooding last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wooding

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near or in a wooded area.

Wooding, 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 Wooding surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wooding in America

Wooding is the 20601st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wooding surname appeared 1,286 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 Wooding.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wooding 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 20601 20055 2.69%
Count 1,286 1,237 3.88%
Proportion per 100k 0.44 0.46 -4.44%

The history of the last name Wooding

The surname Wooding has its origins in England, likely dating back to the medieval period. It is predominantly associated with regions such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, areas well-known for their wooded landscapes and forestry-related activities. The name is primarily derived from the Old English word 'wudu,' meaning wood, and the suffix 'ing,' which can denote belonging or association. Therefore, Wooding likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in the woods.

Historical references to the surname Wooding can be found in ancient records and manuscripts, though it does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, which primarily listed landowners. The name Wooding first began to emerge in the 13th and 14th centuries in various legal documents and tax rolls, indicating its use among common folk and perhaps woodland workers.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is that of Alice de Wodyng in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. The variation in the spelling of Wooding, such as Woding, Wudynge, or Woodynge, is common in historical records due to the phonetic spelling practices of the time. These variations point to a surname connected to those living near or working with wood.

An intriguing historical reference is John Wooding, mentioned in the Close Rolls dated 1331 during the reign of Edward III, suggesting the family's presence and significance in medieval society. Another notable individual is Nicholas Wooding, who was documented in the Feet of Fines for Oxfordshire in 1383, likely indicating his involvement in local governance or land transactions.

One distinguished bearer of the surname is Sir Charles Wooding, an 18th-century figure known for his military service. Born in 1725 and passing away in 1802, Sir Charles served in the British Army and was noted for his contributions to various colonial campaigns.

Margaret Wooding, another notable historical figure from the Wooding lineage, was an English poet born in 1791. Her works often reflected the pastoral beauty of her native Yorkshire and earned her modest acclaim during the early 19th century. She passed away in 1845, leaving behind a legacy of literary contributions.

Additionally, the Wooding family name is immortalized in several place names, such as Woodingdean in Sussex. These place names serve as geographical reminders of the family’s historical settlement areas and their likely influence in those regions.

The history of the surname Wooding is rich with references of individuals contributing to their society, whether through military, governance, or cultural achievements. From the medieval period to the 19th century, bearers of the name have left their mark, making Wooding a surname of historical significance in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wooding

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

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 Wooding was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 58.32% 750
Non-Hispanic Black Only 35.61% 458
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.39% 5
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.39% 5
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.95% 38
Hispanic Origin 2.33% 30

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 58.32% 59.90% -2.67%
Black 35.61% 34.52% 3.11%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.39% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.39% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 2.95% 2.59% 13.00%
Hispanic 2.33% 2.10% 10.38%

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

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

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

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

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

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