The Woodard Family History

What Does the Woodard Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Woodard is of English origin and derives from the Old English words ‘wode’, ‘wudu’, and ‘weard’, which signify a guardian of the woodland and its fauna. Variants of the name include Woodward, Woodyard, Wadard, and Woodwards. In England, the highest concentration of Woodard families can be found in the southeast, particularly in urban areas such as London, as well as in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Kent, and Middlesex. There is also a smaller presence in Lancashire to the north. In Scotland, the occurrence of Woodard families is notably rare, with the primary locations being Midlothian and Lanarkshire counties. In the United States, the Woodard surname is prevalent across the eastern regions, with a significant number of families tracing their roots to states such as New York, Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, and California. Noteworthy individuals bearing the Woodard surname include Mike Woodard, a professional baseball player; George Woodard, an actor in film; Alfre Woodard, a distinguished actress in theatre, film, and television; Steve Woodard, another professional baseball player; Milt Woodard, a sportswriter; and Lynette Woodard, the first female member of the Harlem Globetrotters and an Olympic gold medalist.