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

Woodly, 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 Woodly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woodly in America

Woodly is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woodly surname appeared 125 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 Woodly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woodly 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 Woodly

The surname Woodly has its origins in England, emerging during the early medieval period. Derived from Old English elements, the name is associated with "wudu," meaning wood, and "leah," meaning a clearing or meadow. The name Woodly essentially refers to a clearing in or near a wood, a location descriptor that would have been pertinent in England's forested landscape.

Woodly can be traced back to rural areas where settlements were often named based on their natural surroundings. One of the earliest known references to what may be an antecedent of Woodly appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records numerous instances of place names incorporating "wudu" and "leah." While Woodly itself is not cited in the Domesday Book, areas with similar configurations such as Woodleigh in Devon provide clues to its origin.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Woodly surfaced in parish records and tax rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries. For instance, records from 1273 show a John de Woodleye in Essex and a Richard de Woodlegh in Devon. These early records indicate the name was toponymic, identifying individuals by their locale.

Historical figures bearing the surname Woodly include Sir Hugh Woodly, a notable figure in 15th-century Sussex, who was born in 1412 and died in 1479. He was known for his role in local governance and land management. Another distinguished individual was Reverend Thomas Woodly, who lived from 1601 to 1668 and was noted for his contributions to religious scholarship and community leadership in Hampshire.

In the 18th century, Captain Jonathan Woodly emerged as a noteworthy figure, born in 1723 and passing in 1776. He was a respected sea captain who played a significant role in maritime trade during the Age of Exploration. The family often held lands and minor titles, contributing to regional histories and local economies.

The 19th century saw Dr. Harriet Woodly, born in 1828 and died in 1895, become a pioneering figure in medicine in Yorkshire. She was one of the early female physicians who advocated for women’s health and broke ground in an overwhelmingly male-dominated field.

By the early 20th century, the name had spread from England to various parts of the British Empire, including a notable individual, Sir Charles Woodly, born in 1881 and died in 1943, who served as a colonial administrator in British India. His governance and policy reforms were influential in the region's administrative evolution.

In summary, the surname Woodly carries a rich history dating back to medieval England, evolving through centuries with contributions in governance, religion, maritime trade, and medicine. The name's lineage is marked by individuals who played significant roles in their respective fields, leaving a lasting legacy that traces back to simple yet descriptive origins referencing natural landscapes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woodly

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

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

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

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