NameCensus.

UK surname

Wales

A surname indicating a person's origins in the country of Wales or an ancestor from there.

In the 1881 census there were 2,415 people recorded with the Wales surname, ranking it #1,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,859, ranked #1,754, up from #1,841 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Middlesbrough, Dalry East and Rural and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wales is 3,902 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.8%.

1881 census count

2,415

Ranked #1,841

Modern count

3,859

2016, ranked #1,754

Peak year

2010

3,902 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wales had 2,415 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,841 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,859 in 2016, ranked #1,754.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,935 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Wales surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wales surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wales 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 1,633 #1,759
1861 historical 2,001 #1,456
1881 historical 2,415 #1,841
1891 historical 2,713 #1,747
1901 historical 2,902 #1,931
1911 historical 2,935 #1,773
1997 modern 3,701 #1,750
1998 modern 3,800 #1,777
1999 modern 3,816 #1,777
2000 modern 3,830 #1,762
2001 modern 3,764 #1,753
2002 modern 3,848 #1,760
2003 modern 3,710 #1,788
2004 modern 3,689 #1,793
2005 modern 3,650 #1,787
2006 modern 3,658 #1,784
2007 modern 3,661 #1,798
2008 modern 3,699 #1,791
2009 modern 3,777 #1,803
2010 modern 3,902 #1,777
2011 modern 3,835 #1,791
2012 modern 3,794 #1,770
2013 modern 3,870 #1,771
2014 modern 3,893 #1,765
2015 modern 3,864 #1,757
2016 modern 3,859 #1,754

Geography

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Where Wales' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, London parishes, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Middlesbrough, Dalry East and Rural, County Durham and 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Middlesbrough 008 Middlesbrough
2 Dalry East and Rural North Ayrshire
3 County Durham 032 County Durham
4 County Durham 055 County Durham
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wales

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wales

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wales, 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 Wales surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Wales 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Wales is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wales is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wales falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wales

The surname Wales originates from the country of Wales, located in the United Kingdom. It is believed to have its roots in the Old English word "Walesc" or "Wealas," which referred to people of Celtic or Briton descent.

The name was likely first used as a descriptive term to identify individuals who were either born in Wales or had Welsh ancestry. Over time, it became adopted as a hereditary surname, particularly in the medieval period when surnames became more prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wales can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with the surname Wales or similar spellings, such as "Waleis" or "Walensis."

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Wales was Sir John Wales, a knight who served under King Edward I during the Welsh Wars. He was granted lands in Wales for his military service and is believed to have been one of the first to use the surname Wales as a hereditary designation.

Another prominent individual with the surname Wales was Sir David Wales, a Welsh landowner and military commander who lived during the 14th century. He played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence and was a close ally of King Edward III.

During the 15th century, the surname Wales can be found in various historical records, including court documents and parish registers. One notable example is William Wales, a scholar and astronomer who lived from 1476 to 1549. He was appointed the first Royal Lecturer of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and made significant contributions to the field of astronomy.

In the 16th century, the surname Wales was associated with several notable figures, including Thomas Wales, a Welsh clergyman and author who lived from 1530 to 1592. He published several works on theology and served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral.

Another individual of note was Samuel Wales, a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1604 to 1668. He made significant contributions to the study of comets and was one of the first to calculate the orbit of Halley's Comet.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who carried the surname Wales. The name has endured over centuries and continues to be associated with its Welsh origins and cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wales families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wales 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 545 Wales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.32x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 545 2.32x
Surrey 202 1.75x
Middlesex 190 0.80x
Norfolk 178 4.89x
Durham 165 2.34x
Kent 125 1.55x
Lanarkshire 120 1.57x
Lancashire 102 0.36x
Suffolk 84 2.91x
Northumberland 77 2.19x
Sussex 76 1.90x
Cornwall 54 2.02x
Ayrshire 45 2.54x
Hampshire 30 0.62x
Glamorgan 29 0.70x
Cumberland 28 1.37x
Midlothian 28 0.88x
Angus 23 1.05x
Huntingdonshire 23 4.89x
Wigtownshire 23 7.32x
Lincolnshire 22 0.58x
Derbyshire 21 0.57x
Carmarthenshire 20 2.01x
Essex 17 0.36x
Hertfordshire 16 0.98x
Nottinghamshire 15 0.47x
Leicestershire 14 0.53x
Stirlingshire 14 1.60x
Cheshire 13 0.25x
Staffordshire 13 0.16x
Wiltshire 12 0.57x
Aberdeenshire 11 0.50x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.67x
Buteshire 9 6.28x
Dorset 8 0.52x
Westmorland 8 1.54x
Isle of Man 7 1.59x
Bedfordshire 6 0.49x
Renfrewshire 6 0.33x
Warwickshire 6 0.10x
Worcestershire 5 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.28x
Devon 3 0.06x
Royal Navy 3 1.06x
Channel Islands 2 0.29x
East Lothian 2 0.64x
Fife 2 0.14x
Northamptonshire 2 0.09x
Oxfordshire 2 0.14x
Perthshire 2 0.19x
Shropshire 2 0.10x
Flintshire 1 0.16x
Kincardineshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 84 Wales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.34x.

Place Total Index
Barony 84 4.34x
Great Yarmouth 34 11.28x
Lambeth 33 1.60x
Leeds 33 2.49x
Westoe 32 8.02x
Redruth 31 40.90x
Ifield 30 180.29x
Ecclesall Bierlow 28 5.87x
St Peters 26 69.61x
Margate St John Baptist 25 16.91x
Kilwinning 23 40.22x
Batley 21 9.42x
Great Bookham 21 237.02x
Islington London 21 0.92x
Glasgow 20 1.47x
Brightside Bierlow 19 4.13x
Liverpool 19 1.11x
Newington 19 2.17x
Pembrey 19 41.42x
Gateshead 17 3.22x
Portsea 17 1.79x
Bishopwearmouth 16 2.65x
Camberwell 16 1.06x
Dundee 16 1.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 1.25x
Holme Next Sea 16 647.77x
Holy Trinity 16 2.84x
Reedham 16 229.89x
Oxted 15 108.07x
Sheffield 15 2.01x
Stoke Newington London 15 8.14x
Camborne 14 12.68x
Hornsey 14 4.68x
Stranraer 14 48.71x
Wakefield 14 7.78x
Fulham London 13 3.79x
Heigham 13 6.66x
Holbeck 13 8.37x
Lowestoft 13 9.55x
Mile End Old Town 13 3.48x
Newburn Hall 13 196.08x
North Bierley 13 10.27x
Stockton On Tees 13 3.83x
Wimbledon 13 10.04x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 12 14.09x
Bow London 12 3.98x
Brotherton 12 127.66x
Gravesend 12 17.55x
Swansea Town 12 3.55x
West Dereham 12 263.16x
Whenby 12 1333.33x
York St Maurice 12 27.17x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 11 2.68x
Armley 11 10.64x
Dalby Cum Skewsby 11 1018.52x
Downham Market 11 44.00x
East Denton 11 137.50x
Everton 11 1.23x
Gorleston 11 15.02x
Pelton 11 32.84x
Seaton Delaval 11 35.58x
Selby 11 22.44x
Stratton St Margaret 11 34.27x
York St Saviour 11 49.13x
Clowne 10 67.89x
Coundon Grange 10 64.72x
Croydon 10 1.56x
Horsham 10 12.90x
Ixworth 10 123.00x
Leicester St Mary 10 4.72x
St Pancras London 10 0.53x
Sutton St Mary 10 27.95x
West Ham 10 0.97x
Bethnal Green London 9 0.88x
Bury 9 2.81x
Failsworth 9 14.01x
Hook 9 17.45x
Hunstanton 9 73.23x
Lamesley 9 23.75x
Pulborough 9 61.43x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 142
John 125
Thomas 68
George 66
James 64
Charles 56
Henry 37
Robert 35
Edward 33
Joseph 32
Alfred 23
Albert 21
Walter 21
Arthur 20
Harry 18
Richard 18
Benjamin 14
Frederick 12
David 10
Herbert 10
Samuel 10
Edwin 8
Wm. 8
Ernest 5
Isaac 5
Mark 5
Thos. 5
Ephraim 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Horace 4
Ralph 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Alexander 3
Dennis 3
Leonard 3
Peter 3
Sidney 3
Wilson 3
Aaron 2
Archibald 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Clement 2
Cornelius 2
Errington 2
Martin 2
Oliver 2
Prince 2

FAQ

Wales surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wales surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,415 people were recorded with the Wales surname. That placed it at #1,841 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wales surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,859 in 2016. That gives Wales a modern rank of #1,754.

What does the Wales surname mean?

A surname indicating a person's origins in the country of Wales or an ancestor from there.

What does the Wales map show?

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