This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Woodford family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Woodford Family History

Woodford Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: habitational name from any of various places called with Old English wudu ‘wood’ + ford ‘ford’ such as Woodford in Cheshire, Cornwall, Essex, Northamptonshire, and Wiltshire.

In Scotland, the name is derived from Woodford in Saint Boswells (Roxburghshire).

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Woodford family from?

You can see how Woodford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Woodford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Woodford families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 582 Woodford families living in Hampshire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Woodford's in United Kingdom. Hampshire had the highest population of Woodford families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Woodford surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Woodford 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 Woodford. 10% of Woodford men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Woodford women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Woodford were Farmworker and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Woodford | 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
    10%
  • Gardener
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Farmworker
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Woodford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 76,000 census records available for the last name Woodford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Woodford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Woodford

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Woodford. 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 Woodford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Woodford. For the veterans among your Woodford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Woodford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Woodford family history

Discover More

What is the average Woodford lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Woodford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Woodford in 1942 was 62, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Woodford

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Woodford 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Woodford family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial