Woodson Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Woodson is an Old English name meaning 'son of the woodsman,' reflecting a connection to nature and craftsmanship. It evolved from Wuduson in Old English to its current form in Modern English. The name is not associated with biblical texts and became popular during the medieval period. Variants include Woodsen and Woods. Today, it is viewed as a traditional surname, and notable individuals with this name include Jesse Woodson James and R. Scott Woodson.
The name Woodson is most popular in Kentucky, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Woodson has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Woodson' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1625th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2076th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2692nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5640th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9851st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 10037th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3945th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Woodson' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Woodson"
Pronunciation
/ˈwʊdsən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Woodson is derived from the Old English elements 'wudu,' meaning 'wood,' and 'son,' meaning 'son of.' Thus, it originally referred to 'son of the woodsman' or 'son of the wood.'
Meaning
son of the woodsman
Language Evolution
Wuduson (Old English), Wodson (Middle English), Woodson (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The surname Woodson gained popularity in England during the medieval period as surnames became hereditary and were often derived from occupations or geographical features.
Variants & Derivatives
Woodsen, Woods, Wood
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Woodson is perceived as a traditional surname with strong ties to nature and craftsmanship, often associated with familial lineage.
Famous People
Jesse Woodson James (American outlaw), R. Scott Woodson (American writer), Derrick Woodson (American athlete)
📊 Woodson Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Woodson Name Visualizations
✨ Woodson Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 48 peak births in 2024
Geographic Spread
Popular across 4 US states, with strongest presence in Kentucky
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 7 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Woodson"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Woodson"
"Woodson" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1625th of 7545 | 345 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2076th of 6773 | 232 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2692nd of 7552 | 177 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 5640th of 10718 | 50 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 9851st of 16616 | 34 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 10037th of 24088 | 85 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3945th of 23106 | 323 |
Regional Popularity of "Woodson" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
79.45% 1125th/1416 |
- |
57.82% 1368th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
58.47% 3989th/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Woodson" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Woodson"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Woodson" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.