Explore the Family Name Woodruff
The meaning of Woodruff
English: from Middle English woderove ‘woodruff, sweet woodruff’ (Old English wudurofe), a sweet-scented plant. The leaves of the plant have a sweet smell and the surname may also have been a nickname for one who used it as a perfume, or perhaps an ironical nickname for a malodorous person. Alternatively, perhaps a topographic name for someone who lived at or near a place where woodruff grew. There may have been some confusion with Woodrow. History: Two English families brought the name Woodruff to the American colonies: those of Matthew Woodruff and of John and Ann Woodruffe. The latter migrated to Lynn, MA, from Kent, and moved to Southampton, Long Island, NY, before 1640. John and Ann’s many descendants were established in NJ, NC, and SC by 1790. The city of Woodruff, SC, is named for this family. The name is variously spelled Woodrove, Woodroffe, Woodruffe, Woodrough, and Woodruff in colonial records.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Woodruff in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Woodruff saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. During this period, its ranking dropped by 6.6%, moving from 1258 to 1341. However, the number of people carrying the Woodruff surname increased marginally by 2.58%, with the total count rising from 25,626 in 2000 to 26,286 in 2010. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100k also decreased by 6.21%, falling from 9.5 to 8.91.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,258 | #1,341 | -6.6% |
| Count | 25,626 | 26,286 | 2.58% |
| Proportion per 100k | 9.5 | 8.91 | -6.21% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Woodruff
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows interesting shifts within the Woodruff population from 2000 to 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander saw the largest increase at 48.65%, followed by those claiming two or more races at 42.95%, and then Hispanic at 39.87%. The proportion of White individuals declined slightly by 2.30%, while the Black community saw a modest growth of 4.49%. Meanwhile, the American Indian and Alaskan Native representation witnessed a 7.81% decline during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 83.95% | 82.02% | -2.3% |
| Black | 12.03% | 12.57% | 4.49% |
| Hispanic | 1.53% | 2.14% | 39.87% |
| Two or More Races | 1.49% | 2.13% | 42.95% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.64% | 0.59% | -7.81% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.37% | 0.55% | 48.65% |
Woodruff ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Woodruff is British & Irish, which comprises 57.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (24.2%) and Scandinavian (3.4%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Nigerian, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 57.0% |
| French & German | 24.2% |
| Scandinavian | 3.4% |
| Other | 15.5% |
Possible origins of the surname Woodruff
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Woodruff have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 89.90% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 89.40% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 89.40% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 89.10% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 89.10% |
What Woodruff haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Woodruff is R-Z8, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z8 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L20 and R-P311, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Sherwood, Mayo, Call, Farr, Wing, Tuck, Benjamin, Bassett, Haines, Taft.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Woodruff surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Woodruff have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Woodruff" Surname 46.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Woodruff" Surname 25.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Woodruff" Surname 26.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Woodruff" Surname 18.3%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Woodruff?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Woodruff are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition