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

Woolard, 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 Woolard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woolard in America

Woolard is the 6417th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woolard surname appeared 5,296 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Woolard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woolard 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 Woolard

The surname Woolard is of English origin, with roots that can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Dorset, where it was derived from the Old English words "wulf" meaning wolf and "geard" meaning yard or enclosure, suggesting a connection to a homestead or farm associated with wolves.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1190, where a Richard Wulvard is mentioned. This variation in spelling highlights the fluid nature of surnames during the medieval period, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciations.

In the 13th century, the Woolard name appeared in various records across southern England, particularly in the counties of Somerset and Dorset. One notable entry is from the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1243, which mentions a Henry Wolvard as a landholder.

The Woolard surname gained prominence in the 14th century, with several individuals bearing the name appearing in historical records. John Woolard, born around 1320 in Dorset, was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry. Another notable figure was William Woolard, born in Somerset in 1375, who held the position of bailiff in the nearby town of Yeovil.

As the centuries progressed, the Woolard name spread across England, with various spellings emerging, such as Wollard, Woollard, and Wulward. One remarkable individual from this period was Sir Thomas Woolard (1545-1612), a notable military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Anglo-Spanish War.

In the 17th century, the Woolard surname found its way across the Atlantic, with members of the family settling in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of John Woolard, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and established a successful plantation in the Tidewater region.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, several notable individuals bearing the Woolard surname emerged. These include Thomas Woolard (1732-1810), a prominent merchant and landowner in North Carolina, and William Woolard (1795-1874), a pioneer and influential figure in the settlement of Indiana.

While the Woolard surname has undergone various changes in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the rural landscapes of southern England, where it was closely associated with the imagery of wolves and their enclosures or homesteads.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woolard

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

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

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

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