Explore the Family Name Woodiwiss
The meaning of Woodiwiss
English (mainly Derbyshire and Yorkshire): nickname from Middle English wodewose, wodewese (Old English wudewāse) ‘wild man of the woods’. This word was also used to denote a person dressed to represent such a being in a play or pageant. Wodewoses (male and female) were mythical creatures of English and ancient Germanic folklore, akin to the fauns and satyrs of classical mythology. The surname may also have been acquired by someone who lived and worked in the woods or perhaps by an unusually hairy man.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Woodiwiss in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Woodiwiss experienced a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Woodiwiss was ranked 107,565 in terms of popularity and had a count of 153, which means it represented 0.06 per 100k of the population. By 2010, the rank dropped to 116,201 with a count of 150, representing a decrease of 1.96% in the number of people with this surname, and resulting in a proportion of 0.05 per 100k of the population.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #107,565 | #116,201 | -8.03% |
| Count | 153 | 150 | -1.96% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.05 | -16.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Woodiwiss
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the surname Woodiwiss identified as White in both 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the percentage stood at 98.69%, but decreased slightly by 3.40% to 95.33% in 2010. There were no recorded changes in the percentages of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, two or more races, Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native. Data for these categories either remained the same or was suppressed for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 98.69% | 95.33% | -3.4% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |