NameCensus.

UK surname

Villis

In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Villis surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 283, ranked #15,359, up from #22,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, North Somerset and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Villis is 306 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 253.8%.

1881 census count

80

Ranked #22,225

Modern count

283

2016, ranked #15,359

Peak year

1999

306 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Villis had 80 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016, ranked #15,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 197 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Villis surname distribution map

The map shows where the Villis surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Villis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Villis over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 65 #21,747
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 80 #22,225
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 158 #17,507
1911 historical 197 #15,101
1997 modern 296 #13,646
1998 modern 301 #13,861
1999 modern 306 #13,782
2000 modern 300 #13,904
2001 modern 297 #13,816
2002 modern 305 #13,865
2003 modern 296 #13,944
2004 modern 283 #14,418
2005 modern 281 #14,411
2006 modern 285 #14,361
2007 modern 277 #14,818
2008 modern 285 #14,647
2009 modern 285 #14,944
2010 modern 283 #15,363
2011 modern 285 #15,140
2012 modern 291 #14,806
2013 modern 291 #15,067
2014 modern 275 #15,831
2015 modern 277 #15,622
2016 modern 283 #15,359

Geography

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Where Villis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Stogursey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, North Somerset, Forest of Dean and County Durham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Stogursey Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 007 Sedgemoor
2 North Somerset 003 North Somerset
3 Forest of Dean 002 Forest of Dean
4 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
5 County Durham 033 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Villis

These lists show first names that appear often with the Villis surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Villis

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Villis, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Villis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Villis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Villis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Villis is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Villis falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Villis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Villis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Villis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Villis surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 62 Villis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.36x.

County Total Index
Somerset 62 49.36x
Glamorgan 9 6.62x
Gloucestershire 6 3.92x
Devon 1 0.62x
Middlesex 1 0.13x
Norfolk 1 0.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nether Stowey in Somerset leads with 27 Villis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13500.00x.

Place Total Index
Nether Stowey 27 13500.00x
Bridgewater 10 293.26x
Over Stowey 10 7142.86x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 41.64x
Penlline 5 6250.00x
Spaxton 5 2083.33x
Cannington 4 1081.08x
Stogursey 3 882.35x
Charlinch 2 4000.00x
Llantrisant 2 58.48x
Llanwonno 2 40.98x
Crowcombe 1 833.33x
Devonport 1 53.48x
Hunstanton 1 243.90x
Westminster St James 1 12.47x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Villis surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 4
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Caroline 2
Ada 1
Albina 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Harriet 1
Hester 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mary.J. 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Selina 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Villis surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 7
Henry 6
Edward 5
George 5
Francis 3
Thomas 3
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
James 2
John 2
Abraham 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Fredk. 1
Gabriel 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Villis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Villis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Villis surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Villis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016. That gives Villis a modern rank of #15,359.

What does the Villis map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Villis bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.