NameCensus.

UK surname

Wagg

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "wagge," meaning a bundle of straw or a hedge.

In the 1881 census there were 698 people recorded with the Wagg surname, ranking it #5,198 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 879, ranked #6,408, down from #5,198 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, King's Lynn St Margaret and Bircham, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wagg is 955 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.9%.

1881 census count

698

Ranked #5,198

Modern count

879

2016, ranked #6,408

Peak year

1911

955 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wagg had 698 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,198 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 879 in 2016, ranked #6,408.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 955 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wagg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wagg surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wagg 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 544 #4,643
1861 historical 538 #4,878
1881 historical 698 #5,198
1891 historical 780 #5,149
1901 historical 869 #5,268
1911 historical 955 #4,721
1997 modern 820 #6,414
1998 modern 911 #6,103
1999 modern 919 #6,100
2000 modern 951 #5,918
2001 modern 928 #5,932
2002 modern 954 #5,904
2003 modern 923 #5,961
2004 modern 910 #6,045
2005 modern 881 #6,115
2006 modern 878 #6,149
2007 modern 873 #6,241
2008 modern 895 #6,152
2009 modern 903 #6,247
2010 modern 885 #6,483
2011 modern 882 #6,426
2012 modern 897 #6,261
2013 modern 886 #6,416
2014 modern 888 #6,448
2015 modern 872 #6,467
2016 modern 879 #6,408

Geography

Back to top

Where Waggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, King's Lynn St Margaret, Bircham, Great, St Werburgh and Hucknall Torkard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
3 Bircham, Great Norfolk
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 011 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 008 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 009 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 004 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 015 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wagg

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wagg

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wagg, 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 Wagg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wagg 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wagg is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wagg 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

Wagg falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wagg 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 Wagg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wagg

The surname WAGG originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wagga", which means "to move or sway". This name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone who walked with a particular gait or movement.

The earliest recorded instance of the WAGG surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199, where a William Wagge is mentioned. Another early record is found in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, which references a Richard Wagge.

In the 14th century, the WAGG surname can be found in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Wagge is listed. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332 also mention a William Wagge.

One notable person with the WAGG surname was Richard Wagg (c. 1510-1580), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Chippenham in 1558 and 1563.

In the 17th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Wagge, Wag, and Waggs. A prominent individual from this period was Sir Thomas Wagg (1618-1688), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton in 1660.

Another significant figure was John Wagg (1680-1743), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Duties of a Christian" and "The Principles of the Christian Religion".

In the 18th century, the WAGG surname continued to be prevalent in England. One notable person was Thomas Wagg (1720-1789), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Freemasons' Hall.

As the centuries progressed, the WAGG surname spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to British colonies and other countries. However, its origins can be traced back to England, where it emerged as a descriptive surname referring to an individual's distinctive gait or movement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wagg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wagg 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. Norfolk leads with 175 Waggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.67x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 175 16.67x
Staffordshire 128 5.55x
Nottinghamshire 77 8.37x
Derbyshire 70 6.55x
Shropshire 52 8.81x
Middlesex 23 0.34x
Yorkshire 21 0.31x
Gloucestershire 19 1.42x
Essex 17 1.26x
Surrey 15 0.45x
Wiltshire 14 2.32x
Kent 12 0.52x
Lancashire 12 0.15x
Hampshire 11 0.79x
Cheshire 10 0.66x
Montgomeryshire 7 4.47x
Suffolk 7 0.84x
Leicestershire 6 0.79x
Northamptonshire 6 0.93x
Lanarkshire 4 0.18x
Lincolnshire 4 0.37x
Devon 2 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.23x
Channel Islands 1 0.49x
Cumberland 1 0.17x
Denbighshire 1 0.39x
Midlothian 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 1.23x
Worcestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 50 Waggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.46x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 50 20.46x
Hucknall Torkard 47 201.37x
South Lynn 33 278.48x
Normanton 25 276.85x
Great Bircham 18 1666.67x
Nottingham St Mary 18 7.56x
Adbaston 17 1349.21x
Armitage 13 433.33x
Wellington 13 39.20x
Hunstanton 12 338.03x
St Marylebone London 12 3.29x
West Ham 12 4.03x
Caverswall 11 91.82x
Coombe Bissett 11 1294.12x
Litchurch 11 25.57x
Newcastle Under Lyme 11 26.97x
Newport 11 154.49x
Flitcham Cum Appleton 10 917.43x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 10 31.73x
Lilleshall 10 110.86x
Newington 10 3.96x
Plumstead 10 12.88x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 6.54x
Litcham 9 478.72x
Barrow Upon Trent 8 963.86x
Heacham 8 341.88x
Ringstead 8 747.66x
Wolverhampton 8 4.51x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 15.67x
Clifton 7 10.34x
Derby St Peter 7 20.56x
Docking 7 212.12x
Littleover 7 386.74x
Llanrhaiadr Ym Mochnant 7 138.61x
East Rudham 6 324.32x
Edgmond 6 92.45x
Ipswich St Clement 6 28.38x
Northampton All Sts 6 27.54x
Thetford St Peter 6 217.39x
Walsoken 6 95.09x
West Rudham 6 540.54x
Basford 5 11.79x
Christchurch 5 16.47x
Colchester St Nicholas 5 413.22x
Derby St Alkmund 5 15.61x
Holy Trinity 5 3.07x
Radford 5 10.69x
Salford 5 2.10x
Snettisham 5 171.82x
South Wootton 5 1190.48x
Burntwood Edial 4 27.17x
Holme Next Sea 4 563.38x
Manningham 4 4.80x
Northrepps 4 298.51x
Sedgeford 4 224.72x
Sutton In Macclesfield 4 25.58x
Thornbury 4 43.67x
Whippingham 4 37.74x
Derby St Werburgh 3 4.86x
East Molesey 3 38.86x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.62x
Leicester St Mary 3 4.90x
Macclesfield 3 4.48x
Mile End Old Town 3 2.78x
Shrewsbury St Mary 3 12.89x
Sutton St Mary 3 29.07x
Wem 3 34.21x
Wolstanton 3 4.29x
Barony 2 0.36x
Bishopstone 2 69.44x
Burslem 2 3.03x
Hillington 2 298.51x
Houghton On Hill 2 1818.18x
Islington London 2 0.30x
Manchester 2 0.55x
Norwich St Clement 2 16.43x
Shifnal 2 12.48x
Stonehouse East 2 27.74x
West Derby 2 0.84x
Whittington 2 42.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Sarah 30
Elizabeth 17
Emma 17
Ann 13
Alice 12
Hannah 12
Ellen 10
Emily 10
Charlotte 9
Agnes 8
Martha 8
Harriet 7
Edith 6
Jane 6
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Amy 4
Elizth. 4
Lucy 4
Sophia 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Fanny 3
Grace 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Clara 2
Elisabeth 2
Florence 2
Ida 2
Margaret 2
Maud 2
Minna 2
Minnie 2
Susanah 2
Susannah 2
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Dorcas 1
Dorothy 1
Eda 1
Edna 1
Flora 1
Florance 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
John 35
James 34
George 33
Thomas 18
Alfred 16
Henry 12
Joseph 12
Charles 11
Arthur 10
Robert 9
Walter 9
Frederick 8
Herbert 7
Albert 6
Harry 4
Ernest 3
Saml. 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Abraham 2
Christopher 2
Clement 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Levi 2
Luke 2
Maurice 2
Michael 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
David 1
Edwd. 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
G.A. 1
Henny 1
Jno. 1
Kendrick 1
M.John 1
Matthew 1
Wm.Richd. 1

FAQ

Wagg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wagg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 698 people were recorded with the Wagg surname. That placed it at #5,198 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wagg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 879 in 2016. That gives Wagg a modern rank of #6,408.

What does the Wagg surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "wagge," meaning a bundle of straw or a hedge.

What does the Wagg map show?

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