NameCensus.

UK surname

Wadlow

An English surname derived from an Old English place name meaning "valley with a wood".

In the 1881 census there were 203 people recorded with the Wadlow surname, ranking it #12,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 273, ranked #15,800, down from #12,717 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret and Stanstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, North Kesteven and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wadlow is 320 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.5%.

1881 census count

203

Ranked #12,717

Modern count

273

2016, ranked #15,800

Peak year

1911

320 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wadlow had 203 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,717 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016, ranked #15,800.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 320 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Wadlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wadlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wadlow 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 203 #12,717
1891 historical 259 #12,399
1901 historical 306 #11,494
1911 historical 320 #10,932
1997 modern 305 #13,377
1998 modern 305 #13,753
1999 modern 310 #13,672
2000 modern 302 #13,848
2001 modern 301 #13,700
2002 modern 307 #13,805
2003 modern 291 #14,100
2004 modern 280 #14,530
2005 modern 279 #14,480
2006 modern 281 #14,500
2007 modern 285 #14,527
2008 modern 282 #14,748
2009 modern 294 #14,628
2010 modern 308 #14,452
2011 modern 295 #14,758
2012 modern 283 #15,115
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 279 #15,661
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 273 #15,800

Geography

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Where Wadlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret, Stanstead and Shiffnal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, North Kesteven, South Holland, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Neath Port Talbot. 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 London parishes London 1
2 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
3 Stanstead Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Shiffnal Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
2 North Kesteven 003 North Kesteven
3 South Holland 002 South Holland
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 013 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Neath Port Talbot 016 Neath Port Talbot

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wadlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wadlow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wadlow, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Wadlow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Wadlow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Wadlow is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wadlow is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wadlow falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wadlow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wadlow

The surname WADLOW is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated from a place name, specifically a location near Craven in Yorkshire, England. The name likely derives from the Old English words "wad" and "hlaw," which collectively translate to "wood-hill" or "wooded hill."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the WADLOW surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was documented as "Wadelau." This historical record suggests that the name was already in use during the 11th century, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

During the 13th century, the WADLOW surname appeared in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals with the name residing in Yorkshire. The spelling variations included "Wadlow," "Wadelow," and "Wadelowe," reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings during that era.

Notably, the WADLOW family played a significant role in the history of Yorkshire. One notable figure was Sir John Wadlow (c. 1450-1522), a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry. He was known for his involvement in local affairs and served as a Justice of the Peace for the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Another prominent individual bearing the WADLOW surname was Thomas Wadlow (1604-1676), an English clergyman and author. He served as the Rector of Milston in Wiltshire and published several works, including "The Immortality of the Soul" and "A Discourse of Conscience."

In the 18th century, the WADLOW family continued to make their mark. William Wadlow (1726-1798) was a respected farmer and landowner in Yorkshire, known for his innovative agricultural practices and contributions to the local community.

Moving forward to the 19th century, Robert Wadlow (1818-1889) was a notable figure in the field of architecture. He designed several prominent buildings in London, including the iconic St. Pancras railway station, which remains a celebrated landmark to this day.

While many individuals with the WADLOW surname have left their mark throughout history, one of the most renowned was Robert Pershing Wadlow (1918-1940), also known as the "Alton Giant." Born in Alton, Illinois, he held the record for the tallest person in recorded history, standing at an incredible 8 feet 11.1 inches (2.72 meters) tall.

The WADLOW surname, with its origins rooted in the historical landscapes of Yorkshire, has endured through the centuries, carried by individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields, from agriculture and architecture to literature and religious scholarship.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wadlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wadlow 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. Shropshire leads with 46 Wadlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.76x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 46 26.76x
Kent 36 5.30x
Middlesex 33 1.66x
Norfolk 25 8.17x
Cambridgeshire 11 8.73x
Warwickshire 8 1.59x
Surrey 7 0.72x
Durham 6 1.01x
Lincolnshire 6 1.89x
Staffordshire 6 0.89x
Yorkshire 5 0.25x
Lancashire 4 0.17x
Suffolk 3 1.24x
Somerset 2 0.62x
Derbyshire 1 0.32x
Devon 1 0.24x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Northumberland 1 0.34x
Royal Navy 1 4.22x
Worcestershire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George Hanover in Middlesex leads with 18 Wadlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.31x.

Place Total Index
St George Hanover 18 69.31x
Shifnal 15 321.20x
Stansted 12 4285.71x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 9 98.04x
Wellington 7 72.46x
Aston 6 4.34x
Eltham 6 150.75x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 23.40x
Stanton Long 6 3333.33x
Bircham Tofts 5 5555.56x
Claverley 5 431.03x
Cobham 5 793.65x
Deptford St Paul 5 9.55x
Bethnal Green London 4 4.63x
Downham 4 298.51x
Hulme 4 8.12x
Milton In Gravesend 4 39.29x
Monkhopton 4 3333.33x
Ratcliffe London 4 36.40x
Spalding 4 63.39x
Upton Cressett 4 1904.76x
Battersea 3 4.10x
Eston 3 69.93x
Gorleston 3 48.70x
Great Bircham 3 967.74x
Rushbury 3 882.35x
Shouldham 3 697.67x
Witcham 3 1153.85x
Wolverhampton 3 5.81x
Ash Next Ridley 2 465.12x
Bathwick 2 56.50x
Birmingham 2 1.20x
Chatteris 2 62.11x
Clapham 2 8.04x
Flitcham Cum Appleton 2 625.00x
Hackney London 2 1.79x
Normanby In 2 37.95x
Paddington London 2 2.73x
Reigate Borough 2 89.29x
Brenchley 1 41.15x
Byker 1 6.84x
Chelsea London 1 1.67x
Downham Market 1 47.62x
Eyam 1 114.94x
Folkestone 1 7.59x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.95x
Hampstead London 1 3.23x
Hillington 1 526.32x
March 1 23.70x
Penkridge 1 57.80x
Pointon 1 333.33x
Portsmouth 1 10.65x
Shoreditch London 1 1.16x
Smallthorne 1 40.16x
Sutton Maddock 1 370.37x
Sutton St Mary 1 33.22x
Tasley 1 2000.00x
Tormoham 1 5.71x
Walsall Foreign 1 2.88x
Wisbech St Peter 1 15.82x
Worcester St Clement 1 60.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Emma 7
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Anne 4
Caroline 4
Louisa 4
Sarah 4
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Miriam 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anney 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Caraline 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriette 1
Ida 1
Infant 1
Lizzy 1
Mahala 1
Mahalia 1
Marchant 1
Norah 1
Rosetta 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 8
Thomas 8
Henry 7
Charles 5
Edward 5
Robert 5
Edmund 4
Frank 3
George 3
Harry 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Joseph 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alexr.H. 1
Alfd.B. 1
Allison 1
Cecil 1
Clement 1
Edgar 1
Edwards 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hy.G. 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Owen 1
R.J. 1
Ramsay 1
Richard 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm.J.F. 1

FAQ

Wadlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wadlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 203 people were recorded with the Wadlow surname. That placed it at #12,717 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wadlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016. That gives Wadlow a modern rank of #15,800.

What does the Wadlow surname mean?

An English surname derived from an Old English place name meaning "valley with a wood".

What does the Wadlow map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wadlow 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.