NameCensus.

UK surname

Wakely

An English locational surname referring to someone from a place named with the Old English word "wac" meaning to wake or watch.

In the 1881 census there were 492 people recorded with the Wakely surname, ranking it #6,854 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 670, ranked #7,986, down from #6,854 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Newchurch and Stoke Abbas. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, West Dorset and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wakely is 732 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.2%.

1881 census count

492

Ranked #6,854

Modern count

670

2016, ranked #7,986

Peak year

1911

732 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wakely had 492 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,854 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 670 in 2016, ranked #7,986.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 732 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wakely surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wakely surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wakely 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 420 #5,797
1861 historical 335 #7,610
1881 historical 492 #6,854
1891 historical 444 #8,149
1901 historical 533 #7,697
1911 historical 732 #5,858
1997 modern 694 #7,298
1998 modern 716 #7,347
1999 modern 726 #7,321
2000 modern 730 #7,259
2001 modern 705 #7,330
2002 modern 724 #7,318
2003 modern 720 #7,221
2004 modern 696 #7,437
2005 modern 660 #7,688
2006 modern 656 #7,745
2007 modern 653 #7,834
2008 modern 644 #7,967
2009 modern 655 #8,019
2010 modern 682 #7,939
2011 modern 692 #7,748
2012 modern 673 #7,859
2013 modern 682 #7,897
2014 modern 677 #7,989
2015 modern 677 #7,932
2016 modern 670 #7,986

Geography

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Where Wakelys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Newchurch, Stoke Abbas, London parishes and Symondsbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, West Dorset, North Dorset 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 Newchurch Hampshire
3 Stoke Abbas Dorset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Symondsbury Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 010 South Somerset
2 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
3 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
4 County Durham 006 County Durham
5 West Dorset 012 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wakely

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wakely

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

Wakely is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wakely falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wakely

The surname Wakely is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "wacian," meaning "to keep watch" or "to remain awake." The name likely originated in the 12th or 13th century, referring to someone employed as a watchman or a sentry.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various medieval records, such as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which mentions a William Wakely from Oxfordshire. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a John Wakely.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name was predominantly concentrated in the counties of Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire, but it gradually spread to other parts of England over time.

In the 16th century, the name was also associated with place names like Wakeley in Hertfordshire and Wakeley Green in Essex, both of which may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname.

One notable figure bearing the Wakely surname was William Wakely (c. 1525-1592), a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions under Queen Mary I.

Another prominent individual was Sir Christopher Wakely (1614-1687), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1675.

In the 18th century, John Wakely (1731-1801) was a respected English theologian and author who wrote several religious works, including "An Inquiry into the Opinions of the Christian Writers of the Three First Centuries, concerning the Person of Jesus Christ."

During the 19th century, James Wakely (1808-1875) was a renowned English actor and theatre manager, renowned for his performances in Shakespearean plays.

More recently, Charles Wakely (1912-1995) was a British artist and illustrator best known for his book illustrations and his work for the London Underground.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wakely families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wakely 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. Dorset leads with 100 Wakelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.56x.

County Total Index
Dorset 100 31.56x
Devon 75 7.46x
Surrey 62 2.64x
Hampshire 57 5.76x
Middlesex 34 0.70x
Wiltshire 27 6.32x
Somerset 25 3.22x
Gloucestershire 19 2.01x
Shropshire 17 4.08x
Kent 10 0.61x
Buckinghamshire 9 3.08x
Monmouthshire 8 2.29x
Essex 7 0.73x
Durham 6 0.42x
Leicestershire 6 1.12x
Cumberland 5 1.20x
Lancashire 5 0.09x
Sussex 5 0.61x
Glamorgan 4 0.48x
Lincolnshire 4 0.52x
Royal Navy 3 5.21x
Berkshire 2 0.55x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Perthshire 1 0.46x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 21 Wakelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.81x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 21 6.81x
Portsea 17 8.76x
Stoke Abbott 17 1868.13x
Battersea 14 7.88x
Lilleshall 14 219.44x
Lambeth 11 2.61x
Broughton Gifford 10 990.10x
Hardington Mandeville 10 952.38x
Trowbridge 10 52.99x
Broadwinsor 9 432.69x
Newington 9 5.05x
Beaminster 8 227.27x
Hartland 8 255.59x
Horton 8 563.38x
Kingston 8 579.71x
Litton Cheney 8 1038.96x
Northwood 8 56.78x
Ottery St Mary 8 121.40x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 8 454.55x
Barnstaple 7 44.36x
Chideock 7 625.00x
Clifton 7 14.62x
Colyton 7 181.35x
Melbury Osmond 7 1093.75x
Yeovil 7 44.33x
Bow London 6 9.76x
Bristol St Augustine 6 39.27x
Chingford 6 260.87x
Hackney London 6 2.22x
Thornford 6 882.35x
Wareham Holy Trinity 6 434.78x
Bradford On Avon 5 36.58x
Droxford 5 132.28x
Loughborough 5 20.58x
Minster In Sheppey 5 18.32x
North Leigh 5 1219.51x
Parkham 5 375.94x
Portsmouth 5 21.94x
Seaton 5 103.09x
St Marylebone London 5 1.94x
Stoke Damerel 5 7.11x
Stroud 5 27.13x
Trevethin 5 15.17x
Trimdon 5 98.43x
Welcombe 5 1428.57x
Alwington 4 645.16x
Burstock 4 1290.32x
Oldham 4 2.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 5.17x
South Leigh 4 1081.08x
Walcott 4 325.20x
Ashe 3 909.09x
Bridport 3 46.01x
Medstead 3 361.45x
Poole St James 3 25.19x
Ratcliffe London 3 11.25x
Roath 3 7.86x
Royal Navy 3 6.10x
Sandford Orcas 3 714.29x
St Anne Soho London 3 10.88x
Symondsbury 3 148.51x
Bere Regis 2 94.34x
Bermondsey 2 1.39x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.95x
Bideford 2 18.57x
Croydon 2 1.53x
Enfield 2 6.31x
Henfield 2 63.90x
Hove 2 5.60x
Netherbury 2 76.34x
Newbury 2 17.23x
Newport 2 12.01x
Ovington 2 833.33x
St Dunstan In West 2 192.31x
St George Hanover 2 3.17x
Strood 2 21.28x
Tawstock 2 111.73x
Wombridge 2 38.84x
Woolfardisworthy 2 136.99x
Datchet 1 50.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 22
Eliza 14
Alice 10
Emily 9
Ellen 8
Emma 8
Charlotte 6
Florence 6
Caroline 5
Fanny 5
Jane 5
Louisa 5
Ruth 4
Ann 3
Anna 3
Annie 3
Beatrice 3
Catherine 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Ada 2
Bessie 2
Eleanor 2
Elisa 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
Carriline 1
Edith 1
Ellena 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Hester 1
Janet 1
Jennet 1
Julitta 1
Kate 1
Louise 1
Lousia 1
Wilihemina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 25
James 18
Charles 17
George 12
Henry 12
Samuel 11
Alfred 9
Thomas 8
Joseph 6
Walter 6
Arthur 4
Frank 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Lewis 3
Matthew 3
Reuben 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Caleb 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Marcus 2
Philip 2
Sidney 2
Aurther 1
Clarence 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Erenest 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Gaius 1
Gideon 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Lenord 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Nathanoel 1
Willm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Wakely surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wakely surname in 1881?

In 1881, 492 people were recorded with the Wakely surname. That placed it at #6,854 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wakely surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 670 in 2016. That gives Wakely a modern rank of #7,986.

What does the Wakely surname mean?

An English locational surname referring to someone from a place named with the Old English word "wac" meaning to wake or watch.

What does the Wakely map show?

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