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

Woodsmall, 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 Woodsmall surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woodsmall in America

Woodsmall is the 47706th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woodsmall surname appeared 444 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 Woodsmall.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woodsmall 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 Woodsmall

The surname Woodsmall traces its origins to England, specifically around the medieval period. Initially found in regions rich with woodlands and forests, the name likely has roots in the old Anglo-Saxon language, indicative of a geographical or occupational connection to woodlands. The components "wood" and "small" might suggest a smaller wooded area or a diminutive form of a much larger forested area.

Derived from Old English words, "wudu" or "wid" for wood, and "smæl," meaning small or slight, the amalgamation Woodsmall stood as a relatively descriptive term. As surnames became standardized late into the 14th century, names like Woodsmall started appearing in local records, reflecting possible habitats or occupations related to woodland management or small forest groves.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in manorial rolls and land registers, such as the Pipe Rolls or even the Assize Rolls, though specific to regions heavily forested in medieval England. Manuscripts from the early 15th century have shown variations in spelling such as Woodsmael or Woodsmaal, pointing to the regional dialects and phonetic spelling common at the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Richard Woodsmall, born around 1450, whose name appeared in a Yorkshire tax record. Another early bearer was Alice Woodsmall, known from London parish records dated around 1487, who was recorded purchasing timber from local markets, suggesting a direct connection to the occupation surrounding wood.

In the 16th century, the Woodsmall lineage might have branched out due to land grants and the enclosure movements, which pushed many families to migrate into towns or new lands. John Woodsmall, born in 1511, is documented as having moved to Lincolnshire, noted in the archival land deeds for the establishment of a small woodworking shop.

Further into the 18th century, Thomas Woodsmall (1698-1763) emerged as a notable figure, having his name chronicled in court documents in Warwickshire for his contributions to the expansion of forestry techniques.

Among the well-documented individuals was Harriet Woodsmall (1702-1774) from Devonshire, a midwife recorded in local records for her service in rural communities, often noted in her capacity to traverse areas surrounded by woods and delicate rural paths, perhaps connecting her name more so to the small and wooded routes she had to travel.

The surname has spread due to migration and expansion of trades, but the core etymology and historical significance rooted in the medieval English woodlands endure as a testament to its origins and the livelihoods of those who first bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woodsmall

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

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

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

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