NameCensus.

UK surname

Wailes

A locational surname derived from a place name in Worcestershire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 290 people recorded with the Wailes surname, ranking it #9,946 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 277, ranked #15,619, down from #9,946 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walsingham, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Harrogate and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wailes is 369 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.5%.

1881 census count

290

Ranked #9,946

Modern count

277

2016, ranked #15,619

Peak year

1891

369 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wailes had 290 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,946 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016, ranked #15,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 369 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Wailes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wailes surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wailes 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 226 #9,487
1861 historical 295 #8,555
1881 historical 290 #9,946
1891 historical 369 #9,447
1901 historical 313 #11,319
1911 historical 364 #9,985
1997 modern 307 #13,328
1998 modern 329 #13,070
1999 modern 329 #13,147
2000 modern 327 #13,164
2001 modern 327 #12,970
2002 modern 322 #13,354
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 299 #13,877
2006 modern 303 #13,834
2007 modern 305 #13,891
2008 modern 302 #14,069
2009 modern 309 #14,135
2010 modern 309 #14,420
2011 modern 292 #14,863
2012 modern 277 #15,375
2013 modern 286 #15,259
2014 modern 278 #15,692
2015 modern 277 #15,622
2016 modern 277 #15,619

Geography

Back to top

Where Wailes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walsingham, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Batley and Alston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Harrogate, Kirklees and Bolton. 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 Walsingham Durham
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Alston Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 045 County Durham
2 County Durham 005 County Durham
3 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
4 Kirklees 015 Kirklees
5 Bolton 015 Bolton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wailes

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wailes

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Wailes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Wailes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Wailes is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wailes is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wailes falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wailes

The surname WAILES has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "wahl," which means "nook" or "corner." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a secluded or remote area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name WAILES can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Wahull." This spelling variation provides insight into the evolution of the surname over time.

In the 14th century, the name WAILES appeared in various records, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1315, where it was spelled "Waille." This document sheds light on the geographical distribution of the name during that period.

The WAILES surname has also been linked to certain place names in England. For example, there is a village called Waleswood in Staffordshire, which may have influenced the development of the name. Additionally, the name WAILES could be associated with Walesby, a village in Lincolnshire.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname WAILES include William WAILES (1808-1881), a renowned English stained glass artist and designer who worked on numerous churches and cathedrals across the country. Another notable figure was Sir David WAILES (1865-1944), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.

In the 16th century, John WAILES (1511-1584) was a prominent English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Magdalen College, Oxford. Another individual of note was George WAILES (1790-1857), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Haverfordwest from 1835 to 1837.

The WAILES surname also has a connection to the arts, with Charles WAILES (1808-1862) being a prominent English architect and designer who worked on several churches and public buildings in Northumberland and Durham.

These historical examples provide a glimpse into the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who carried the WAILES surname throughout the centuries, further enriching the legacy and significance of this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wailes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wailes 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. Yorkshire leads with 85 Wailes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.03x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 85 3.03x
Durham 83 9.86x
Northumberland 68 16.16x
Cumberland 14 5.75x
Gloucestershire 7 1.26x
Lanarkshire 6 0.66x
Hertfordshire 4 2.05x
Essex 3 0.54x
Lancashire 3 0.09x
Staffordshire 3 0.31x
Sussex 3 0.63x
Kent 2 0.21x
Leicestershire 2 0.64x
Monmouthshire 2 0.98x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.56x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Herefordshire 1 0.86x
Surrey 1 0.07x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Batley in Yorkshire leads with 32 Wailes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 120.12x.

Place Total Index
Batley 32 120.12x
Gateshead 23 36.50x
Alston 14 311.80x
Wolsingham 11 143.42x
Dinnington 9 4090.91x
Usworth 9 201.34x
Wallsend 9 67.42x
Tanfield 8 79.92x
Soothill 7 69.10x
Westgate 7 26.86x
Benwell 6 130.43x
Chirton 6 62.96x
Conside Knitsley 6 91.74x
Featherstone 6 190.48x
Heaton 6 428.57x
Methley 6 151.90x
Dalziel 5 50.81x
East Denton 5 520.83x
Allendale 4 102.56x
Cleckheaton 4 38.72x
Kyo 4 101.01x
Minchinhampton 4 90.50x
Slaley 4 975.61x
Watford 4 26.46x
Wortley In Bramley 4 18.02x
York St Mary 4 34.45x
Bishopwearmouth 3 4.15x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 16.22x
Collierley 3 80.00x
Hurworth 3 204.08x
Husthwaite 3 697.67x
Wednesbury 3 12.57x
West Ham 3 2.43x
West Rounton 3 1428.57x
Aberystruth 2 11.09x
Bedlington 2 14.23x
Bishop Auckland 2 17.71x
Bushby 2 4000.00x
Caldwell 2 1176.47x
Edmondsley 2 222.22x
Gomersal 2 15.29x
Harton 2 60.06x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 5.49x
Leeds 2 1.26x
Little Lumley 2 400.00x
Lockwood 2 19.84x
Newton 2 1333.33x
Ormesby 2 26.56x
Ponteland 2 465.12x
Pulborough 2 114.29x
Scarborough 2 7.85x
All Saints Cambridge 1 79.37x
Armley 1 8.09x
Barony 1 0.43x
Beswick 1 416.67x
Birtley 1 29.15x
Brighton 1 1.04x
Brompton In Scarborough 1 149.25x
Chester Le Street 1 15.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.88x
Edgbaston 1 4.52x
Elswick 1 2.98x
Frimley 1 25.45x
Kenton 1 166.67x
Knaresborough 1 22.73x
Lamesley 1 22.08x
Lewisham 1 1.94x
Longbenton 1 5.61x
Meldon 1 666.67x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 3.98x
Preston 1 1.11x
Repton 1 59.88x
Ross 1 21.69x
Tonbridge 1 2.87x
Tynemouth 1 4.44x
Wardleworth 1 5.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 16
Ann 10
Annie 9
Margaret 9
Isabella 7
Sarah 7
Hannah 6
Jane 5
Emily 4
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Dorothy 3
Emma 3
Esther 3
Anne 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Hilda 2
Phillis 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elily 1
Eliza 1
Eliza. 1
Elizabet 1
Ellen 1
Emely 1
Ethel 1
Harriet 1
Janet 1
Janey 1
Jennette 1
Kate 1
Letitia 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Meggie 1
Minnie 1
Penelope 1
Polly 1
Sybil 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 18
George 13
Robert 12
Thomas 10
Joseph 8
Henry 5
Charles 4
Richard 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Isaac 2
Tom 2
Wilson 2
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Anthony 1
Christopher 1
Earnest 1
Emmil 1
Fenwick 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
James 1
Josiah 1
Matthew 1
Noah 1
Samuel 1
Scholey 1
Smith 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wailes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wailes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 290 people were recorded with the Wailes surname. That placed it at #9,946 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wailes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016. That gives Wailes a modern rank of #15,619.

What does the Wailes surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Worcestershire, England.

What does the Wailes map show?

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