2000
#47,026
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 425
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.16
Very Rare Last name
Woolcock
A surname derived from wool and cock, likely referring to someone who worked in the wool trade.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 669 Americans carry the last name Woolcock. That puts it at #40,492 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.20 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 512,338 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Woolcock surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Woolcock with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
669
1 in 512,338
Census rank
#40,492
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
583
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 583 bearers of the surname Woolcock in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 40492nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Woolcock, the largest self-reported group is White at 46.7%. The next largest groups are Black (38.1%) and Hispanic (9.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Woolcock
The surname Woolcock has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon period of England, with strong links to the southwestern county of Cornwall. This surname is believed to have emerged around the 12th century, a time of feudalism and local dialects that influenced the development of surnames based on occupations, personal characteristics, and geographical features.
The name Woolcock appears to be derived from a combination of two Old English elements: "wull," meaning wool, and "cocc," which could mean "cock" or "rooster," though it can also imply a diminutive or pet form. Thus, the name likely originated as a nickname for someone who either worked with wool or had some distinguishing characteristic related to a rooster, possibly symbolizing a spirited or lively personality.
Historical records mentioning the surname Woolcock are somewhat limited, but the name begins to appear in written documents by the late 13th and early 14th centuries. One of the earliest references to the surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cornwall in 1327, listing a Richard Wollecok. This demonstrates the surname's early association with the region of Cornwall, reinforcing its roots in the rural, wool-producing areas of medieval England.
Another early instance of the surname occurs in the form of John Wollecock, who appears in the Poll Tax records of Cornwall in 1379. These tax records are invaluable for tracing the distribution and prevalence of surnames during the medieval period and showcase the evolving spellings over time, emphasizing the surname's local prominence.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Woolcock. One such person is Samuel Woolcock (1820-1873), a chemist and druggist from Cornwall whose contribution to his local community is well documented. Another is John Woolcock (1864-1929), an Australian judge originally from Cornwall, exemplifying the migration and influence of Cornish heritage abroad.
In the realm of academia, Dr. Hubert Woolcock (1912-2002) was a notable Cornish historian and archaeologist who contributed significantly to the study of Cornish history and folklore. His extensive research helped preserve the cultural heritage of the name and its regional importance.
Another interesting figure is Ernest Woolcock (1899-1966), a British chemist who made advancements in pharmaceutical chemistry. His work was influential in the development of various medical treatments and is a testament to the surname's association with scientific inquiry and progress.
Finally, there is Jane Woolcock (1840-1873), an Australian suffragette of Cornish descent who played a pivotal role in advocating for women's rights in the late 19th century. Her activism and dedication to social reform highlight the surname's linkage to significant historical movements and societal contributions.
Overall, the surname Woolcock encapsulates a rich history rooted in medieval England, with a particular connection to Cornwall, evolving through centuries of local, regional, and even global developments. This surname's story is intertwined with notable individuals whose contributions span fields as diverse as science, law, history, and social reform.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Woolcock
Among Census respondents with the surname Woolcock, the largest self-reported group is White at 46.7%. The next largest groups are Black (38.1%) and Hispanic (9.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Woolcock bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Woolcock surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White46.7% · 272
- Black or African American38.1% · 222
- Hispanic or Latino9.6% · 56
- Two or more races4.6% · 27
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Woolcock
Woolcock appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#42,720
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 507
+82 bearers (+19.3%)
Per 100,000 0.17
Rank movement Up 4,306 places
2020
#40,492
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 583
+76 bearers (+15.0%)
Per 100,000 0.20
Rank movement Up 2,228 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #47,026 | 425 | 0.16 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #42,720 | 507 | 0.17 | +82 bearers (+19.3%) | Up 4,306 places |
| 2020 | #40,492 | 583 | 0.20 | +76 bearers (+15.0%) | Up 2,228 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Woolcock surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #42,720 | #40,492 | 5.2% |
| Count | 507 | 583 | 15.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.17 | 0.20 | 14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Woolcock bearers went from 507 to 583 (+15.0% change). The surname moved up 2,228 positions in the national ranking, going from #42,720 to #40,492.
FAQ
Woolcock surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Woolcock?
Name Census estimates that about 669 living Americans carry the surname Woolcock. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 512,338 residents.
How common is Woolcock?
Woolcock ranks #40,492 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.20 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 583 people with the surname Woolcock. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (669), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.2 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.20 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Woolcock.
Has Woolcock become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Woolcock went from 507 recorded bearers to 583. That is an increase of 76 (+15.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #42,720 to #40,492.
What does the Census say about the background of Woolcock?
Among Census respondents with the surname Woolcock, the largest self-reported group is White at 46.7%. The next largest groups are Black (38.1%) and Hispanic (9.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Woolcock in the 2020 Census, accounting for 46.7% (272 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Woolcock appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (46.7%), Black (38.1%), Hispanic (9.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Woolcock (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Woolcock mean?
A surname derived from wool and cock, likely referring to someone who worked in the wool trade. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Woolcock (0.20 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Woolcock?
Find out how many people have the last name Woolcock on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.