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Woodliff Family History

Woodliff Surname Meaning

English (Lincolnshire): from the Middle English continuation of an unrecorded Old English male personal name Wudulēof.

This name is derived from the elements wudu meaning ‘wood’ and lēof translated as ‘dear’.

The Old English roots reflect a connection to nature and affection.

Such names were often used to denote a beloved connection to the woods or forested areas.

Understanding names like Wudulēof provides insight into cultural values and linguistics in historical contexts.

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


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Where is the Woodliff family from?

You can see how Woodliff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Woodliff family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Woodliff families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 35 Woodliff families living in Lincolnshire. This was about 37% of all the recorded Woodliff's in United Kingdom. Lincolnshire had the highest population of Woodliff families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Woodliff 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 Woodliff ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Woodliff. 87% of Woodliff women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Woodliff | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    87%
  • Cotton silk Weaver
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    7%

What Woodliff family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Woodliff. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Woodliff census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Woodliff

Passenger Lists

There are 150 immigration records available for the last name Woodliff. 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 Woodliff immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 620 military records available for the last name Woodliff. For the veterans among your Woodliff ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Woodliff military records

You've only scratched the surface of Woodliff family history

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What is the average Woodliff lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Woodliff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Woodliff in 1958 was 45, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Woodliff

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Woodliff 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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