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Woodburn Family History

Woodburn Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: habitational name from Woodburn in Corsenside (Northumberland), Woodburn (Ayrshire, Kincardineshire, Midlothian), or Woodburn in Oakford (Devon). The placenames all derive from Old English wudu ‘wood’ + burna ‘spring, stream’.

These names indicate locations characterized by natural features such as streams and wooded areas.

The term 'Woodburn' suggests the presence of a stream that flows through a wooded landscape, reflecting the geography of these regions.

Overall, the name embodies a connection to the environment and the local topography.

This etymology illustrates how place names can convey information about the landscape and its cultural significance.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Woodburn family from?

You can see how Woodburn families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Woodburn family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Woodburn families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 427 Woodburn families living in Lancashire. This was about 54% of all the recorded Woodburn's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Woodburn families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Woodburn surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Woodburn ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Woodburn. 16% of Woodburn men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Woodburn women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Woodburn were Molecatcher vermin Destroyer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Woodburn | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    16%
  • Retired
    11%
  • Builders Labourer
    11%
  • Molecatcher vermin Destroyer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

What Woodburn family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 29,000 census records available for the last name Woodburn. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Woodburn census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Woodburn

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Woodburn. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Woodburn immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Woodburn. For the veterans among your Woodburn ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Woodburn military records

You've only scratched the surface of Woodburn family history

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What is the average Woodburn lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Woodburn life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1964. The average life expectancy for Woodburn in 1945 was 23, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Woodburn

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Woodburn ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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