NameCensus.

UK surname

Wann

Derived from a Middle English given name meaning "fair" or "pale," likely referring to someone with a pale complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 212 people recorded with the Wann surname, ranking it #12,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 341, ranked #13,425, down from #12,373 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cupar, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Guildtown, Balbeggie and St Madoes, Leicester and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wann is 342 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.8%.

1881 census count

212

Ranked #12,373

Modern count

341

2016, ranked #13,425

Peak year

2010

342 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wann had 212 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,373 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 341 in 2016, ranked #13,425.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 341 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Wann surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wann surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wann 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 172 #11,682
1861 historical 325 #7,835
1881 historical 212 #12,373
1891 historical 341 #10,041
1901 historical 303 #11,569
1911 historical 207 #14,635
1997 modern 323 #12,888
1998 modern 316 #13,424
1999 modern 316 #13,505
2000 modern 314 #13,516
2001 modern 319 #13,168
2002 modern 316 #13,532
2003 modern 299 #13,850
2004 modern 307 #13,685
2005 modern 308 #13,590
2006 modern 315 #13,440
2007 modern 320 #13,442
2008 modern 310 #13,834
2009 modern 326 #13,630
2010 modern 342 #13,440
2011 modern 337 #13,463
2012 modern 337 #13,345
2013 modern 334 #13,648
2014 modern 330 #13,889
2015 modern 334 #13,645
2016 modern 341 #13,425

Geography

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Where Wanns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cupar, London parishes, Gateshead, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry 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 Guildtown, Balbeggie and St Madoes, Leicester, East Lindsey and Blaby. 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 Cupar Fife
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Guildtown, Balbeggie and St Madoes Perth and Kinross
2 Leicester 012 Leicester
3 East Lindsey 012 East Lindsey
4 Leicester 036 Leicester
5 Blaby 005 Blaby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wann

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wann

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Wann surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Wann household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Wann is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wann 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

Wann 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 Wann is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wann

The surname Wann is believed to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon word "wann," which means "pale" or "wan" in Old English. This name likely referred to someone with a pale complexion or a sickly appearance.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Wann can be traced back to the 13th century in various English records. One of the earliest documented instances is in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a person named William le Wanne is mentioned.

During the medieval period, the name was also spelled in various ways, such as Wanne, Wan, and Wane, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions at the time.

In the 15th century, the surname Wann appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from a wealthy Norfolk family. One letter dated 1472 mentions a person named John Wanne, who was involved in a legal dispute over land.

Wann is also found in historical records from Scotland, suggesting that the name may have migrated northward from England at some point. In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir Patrick Wann (c. 1500 - 1580), a Scottish courtier and diplomat who served under King James V and Mary, Queen of Scots.

Another significant figure with the surname Wann was Robert Wann (1634 - 1719), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford in the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, a prominent Wann family resided in County Antrim, Ireland. One member, John Wann (1744 - 1826), was a successful merchant and landowner who played a role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

Moving into the 19th century, William Wann (1807 - 1884) was a Scottish-born engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and locomotives.

Other notable individuals with the surname Wann include John Wann (1877 - 1939), an Australian cricketer who played for New South Wales, and William A. Wann (1894 - 1968), an American lawyer and politician who served as the Mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, from 1949 to 1963.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wann families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wann 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. Fife leads with 58 Wanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.38x.

County Total Index
Fife 58 47.38x
Durham 39 6.34x
Rutland 18 118.58x
Middlesex 15 0.73x
Northumberland 15 4.88x
Angus 10 5.22x
Leicestershire 9 3.93x
Hampshire 8 1.89x
Lincolnshire 8 2.42x
Perthshire 8 8.62x
Hertfordshire 6 4.21x
Midlothian 4 1.44x
Renfrewshire 3 1.87x
Warwickshire 3 0.58x
Yorkshire 3 0.15x
Norfolk 2 0.63x
Essex 1 0.25x
Lanarkshire 1 0.15x
Surrey 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westoe in Durham leads with 15 Wanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.00x.

Place Total Index
Westoe 15 43.00x
Collessie 10 709.22x
Dundee 10 13.98x
Gateshead 10 21.71x
Dysart 8 97.09x
St Mary Extra 8 234.60x
Bishopwearmouth 7 13.26x
Chirton 7 100.57x
Empingham 7 1206.90x
Kennoway 7 630.63x
Markinch 7 168.27x
South Shields 7 127.74x
Elswick 6 24.43x
Fulham London 6 20.01x
Leicester All Sts 6 133.33x
Perth East Church 6 68.57x
Ryhall 6 1200.00x
St Andrews 6 107.72x
Watford 6 54.30x
Cupar 5 93.99x
Market Deeping 5 581.40x
Oakham Lordshold 5 314.47x
Kinglassie 4 430.11x
Aston 3 2.09x
Balmerino 3 638.30x
Flisk 3 1666.67x
Islington London 3 1.50x
Leicester St Margaret 3 5.36x
West Greenock 3 10.43x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.79x
Heigham 2 11.72x
Monimail 2 333.33x
Scarborough 2 10.74x
St George Hanover 2 7.41x
St Marylebone London 2 1.81x
Alyth 1 40.00x
Bourn 1 37.45x
Chelsea London 1 1.60x
Deeping St James 1 85.47x
Deeping St Nicholas 1 103.09x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 1 62.11x
Forgan 1 42.55x
Gildersome 1 40.65x
Glasgow 1 0.84x
Hammersmith London 1 1.96x
Kemback 1 163.93x
Kinnaird 1 555.56x
Kirkcaldy 1 16.47x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 24.69x
Queensferry 1 357.14x
Richmond 1 7.08x
Romford 1 15.50x
Seaton Delaval 1 37.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Eliza 6
Margaret 6
Elizabeth 4
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Harriett 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Constance 1
Dinah 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
May 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Joseph 8
William 7
George 6
Edward 4
Henry 4
Mark 4
Charles 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
James 2
Richard 2
Author 1
David 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Geo 1
Mathew 1
Mattew 1
Michal 1
Peter 1
Tom 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Wann surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wann surname in 1881?

In 1881, 212 people were recorded with the Wann surname. That placed it at #12,373 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wann surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 341 in 2016. That gives Wann a modern rank of #13,425.

What does the Wann surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English given name meaning "fair" or "pale," likely referring to someone with a pale complexion.

What does the Wann map show?

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