NameCensus.

UK surname

Wakerley

In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Wakerley surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 299, ranked #14,770, up from #17,841 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willoughby-in-the-Wolds, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Loughborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Basildon and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wakerley is 340 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 151.3%.

1881 census count

119

Ranked #17,841

Modern count

299

2016, ranked #14,770

Peak year

2002

340 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wakerley had 119 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,841 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016, ranked #14,770.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 242 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wakerley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wakerley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wakerley 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 109 #16,212
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 119 #17,841
1891 historical 179 #16,198
1901 historical 230 #13,851
1911 historical 242 #13,193
1997 modern 307 #13,328
1998 modern 314 #13,483
1999 modern 326 #13,238
2000 modern 329 #13,090
2001 modern 325 #13,030
2002 modern 340 #12,884
2003 modern 312 #13,467
2004 modern 305 #13,752
2005 modern 295 #13,972
2006 modern 293 #14,116
2007 modern 292 #14,313
2008 modern 287 #14,580
2009 modern 284 #14,986
2010 modern 303 #14,626
2011 modern 290 #14,933
2012 modern 296 #14,635
2013 modern 301 #14,718
2014 modern 307 #14,608
2015 modern 302 #14,687
2016 modern 299 #14,770

Geography

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Where Wakerleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willoughby-in-the-Wolds, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Loughborough, Manchester and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Basildon and South Kesteven. 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 Willoughby-in-the-Wolds Leicestershire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Loughborough Leicestershire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 032 Bolton
2 Basildon 005 Basildon
3 Bolton 033 Bolton
4 South Kesteven 007 South Kesteven
5 Bolton 029 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wakerley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wakerley

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Wakerley is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

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

Wakerley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wakerley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wakerley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Wakerley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wakerley 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. Leicestershire leads with 29 Wakerleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.35x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 29 22.35x
Nottinghamshire 23 14.58x
Middlesex 18 1.54x
Lincolnshire 15 8.02x
Lancashire 14 1.01x
Warwickshire 9 3.05x
Yorkshire 7 0.60x
Surrey 2 0.35x
Cheshire 1 0.39x
Essex 1 0.43x
Gloucestershire 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westminster St John in Middlesex leads with 14 Wakerleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 98.25x.

Place Total Index
Westminster St John 14 98.25x
Willoughby On Wolds 14 7368.42x
Castle Bytham 11 4230.77x
Loughborough 10 169.78x
Birmingham 9 9.15x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 25.43x
Melton Mowbray 6 257.51x
Salford 6 14.69x
Basford 5 68.78x
Middleton In Oldham 5 120.19x
Nottingham St Mary 4 9.80x
Humberstone 3 280.37x
Leicester All Sts 3 117.65x
Pickworth 3 3333.33x
Willesden 3 27.20x
Billesdon 2 588.24x
Ewell 2 166.67x
Leicester St Mary 2 19.08x
Ancaster 1 384.62x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 9.26x
Castleton 1 7.21x
Didsbury 1 54.35x
Edmonton 1 10.60x
Harwick St Nicholas 1 277.78x
Hulme 1 3.45x
Hungarton 1 555.56x
Leicester St Margaret 1 3.16x
Sale 1 31.55x
Stapleton 1 22.99x
Twyford 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 10
Eliza 4
Annie 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Eliz. 1
Emma 1
Harriet 1
Ida 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
Thomas 5
Charles 4
William 4
Joseph 3
Frank 2
Fred 2
George 2
Henry 2
Reuben 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Edwd. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Jas.Arthur 1
Job 1
Jos. 1
Richmond 1
Simmer 1
Smith 1
Thos. 1
Vincent 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wakerley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wakerley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Wakerley surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wakerley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016. That gives Wakerley a modern rank of #14,770.

What does the Wakerley map show?

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