Woodson
An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived or worked in or near a wood or forest.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 20,051 Americans carry the last name Woodson. That puts it at #2,098 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.85 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 17,094 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Woodson surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
20K
1 in 17,094
Census rank
#2,098
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
17K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 17,242 bearers of the surname Woodson in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.85 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2098th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Woodson, the largest self-reported group is Black at 54.0%. The next largest groups are White (39.8%) and Two or More Races (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Woodson
The surname Woodson is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "wudu" meaning wood and "sunu" meaning son, thus translating to "son of the woodman" or "son of the forester." This name first emerged in the 12th century and was primarily concentrated in the counties of Staffordshire and Warwickshire.
The earliest known record of the name Woodson appears in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1195, where it is spelled "Wodessone." In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, the name is documented as "Wodson" in Warwickshire. These early records indicate the occupational origins of the surname, referring to individuals who worked as woodsmen or foresters.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Woodson, who was born in Staffordshire around 1290. He is mentioned in a charter from 1316 relating to land transactions in the village of Shenstone.
The Woodson family has a long-standing connection to the village of Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire, which was formerly known as "Woodeton" or "Wodeton" in the 13th century. This place name likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname.
During the 16th century, the Woodson name gained prominence with the birth of Sir Ralph Woodson (1530-1592), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Staffordshire. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the county for several generations.
Another notable bearer of the name was John Woodson (1586-1644), a English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Winchester from 1636 until his death. He was born in Derbyshire and is remembered for his theological writings and sermons.
In the 17th century, the Woodson family expanded to the American colonies, with Robert Woodson (1610-1677) being one of the earliest settlers to arrive in Virginia in 1638. He established a prominent family line in the colony, and his descendants played significant roles in the development of the region.
Other notable individuals with the Woodson surname include:
1. Benjamin Woodson (1789-1859), an American politician and military officer who served as the 16th Governor of Missouri.
2. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), an American historian, author, and scholar known as the "Father of Black History."
3. Dorothy Woodson (1891-1950), an American writer and educator who was a pioneer in the field of children's literature.
4. Robert Woodson (born 1937), an American civil rights activist and founder of the Woodson Center, a nonprofit organization focused on community revitalization.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Woodson
Among Census respondents with the surname Woodson, the largest self-reported group is Black at 54.0%. The next largest groups are White (39.8%) and Two or More Races (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Woodson bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Woodson surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American54.0%
- White39.8%
- Two or more races3.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Woodson surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,098 | #2,098 | 0.0% |
| Count | 17,242 | 17,242 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.85 | 5.85 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Woodson bearers went from 17,242 to 17,242 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,098 to #2,098.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Woodson
FAQ
Woodson surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Woodson?
The surname Woodson holds position #2,098 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 20,051 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.85 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Woodson surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Woodson, the largest self-reported group is Black at 54.0%. The next largest groups are White (39.8%) and Two or More Races (3.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.