Surname Woodlock - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Woodlock: What does the surname Woodlock mean?
Woodlock is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name is derived from the Olde English word “wudu” meaning “wood”, and “locc” meaning “enclosure”, together translating as “wooden enclosure”. This surname may have originated as a topographic name for someone who lived by a wood, a forest, or a woodland fenced in for the protection of animals and livestock.
This surname appears in early records as Woodloc, Wydeylok, and Widlocke, and it can likely be found in records as far back as the 13th century. The family, with variations like Wodlock and Woodrouch, can be found in some isolated pockets in the Midlands region and Lancashire by the mid-16th century. It may even have spread as far as Somerset in the 17th century, and to Cornwall by the late 18th century.
Today, the Woodlock name is still prominently found in England, where it is amongst the top 200 hundred surnames. It can also be found within Irish, Scots, and Welsh populations. It is still often associated with agricultural or rural backgrounds, as the surrounding hedgerows and woods of British farms can still be found today. It is also arguably seen as a particularly traditional and “English” surname.
Order DNA origin analysisWoodlock: Where does the name Woodlock come from?
The last name Woodlock is common today in mostly English-speaking countries, particularly in the regions of Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Ireland. In the United States, the Woodlock surname is most identified in the areas surrounding Boston, Massachusetts.
While the origin of this surname is still a mystery, there are theories that suggest it evolved from variations of the name "Wylock," which was a surname found in Medieval England during the 1100 to 1500s. Variations of this spelling have given rise to the present-day surname of "Woodlock."
Woodlock is also a well-known surname within the Jehovah’s Witness community, particularly in Northern Ireland. In this country, the birth records with the Woodlock surname date back to the 1600s. Currently, there are hundreds of individuals with the Woodlock surname in Northern Ireland alone.
It’s possible that Woodlock is also a surname found in East Asia. Similar to other English surnames, such as Anderson or Johnson, the Chinese characters 吴老 and 牢房 translate into "Woo Lock" and "Wood Lock," respectively. However, there is no record that suggests the Woodlock surname were brought into East Asia from the original English-speaking countries.
Due to its ties to the English language and the British Isles, the last name of Woodlock will likely remain prominent in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Ireland. Additionally, with the increase in immigration to countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia, it’s likely that the Woodlock surname will continue to spread to other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Woodlock
The Woodlock surname is derived from the Middle English words wood and lok, meaning “wood” and “lock” respectively. It is typically associated with English and Irish origins. The known variants of the name are Woolock, Wollock, Wolelock, Woolacot, Wulucott, Welock, Wolock, Wulok, Woloc, and Woloke, with the last three being particularly rare.
The spelling of the Woodlock surname can also vary in cases of transcriptions, transcribers, and mistranscriptions. For example, it can appear with one o, such as Wdlock or Wolock. It can also appear with double-l, such as Wooilock, Woolock, Wooloock, or Wooollock. Moreover, it can also appear with dual o’s, such as Woloock.
The surnames derived from Woodlock are Wullacott, Washlock, Welock, Welok, Weloch, Weelock, and Wlane. These surnames will typically be used in certain areas of the United Kingdom honor of different branches of the same Woodlock family.
Overall, the Woodlock surname is one with multiple variants and spellings. It is an old and proud surname with both English and Irish roots.
Famous people with the name Woodlock
- Cillian Woodlock: actor and filmmaker
- Barry Woodlock: former footballer
- Charles Woodlock: playwright
- Deirdre Woodlock: author
- Bridget Woodlock: musician
- Nicholas Woodlock: businessman
- Declan Woodlock: actor
- John Woodlock: musician
- Michael Woodlock: painter
- Patrick Woodlock: actor