NameCensus.

UK surname

Want

English word derived from the Middle English meaning "to lack or be deficient".

In the 1881 census there were 615 people recorded with the Want surname, ranking it #5,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 659, ranked #8,088, down from #5,717 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, North East Lincolnshire and Rutland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Want is 871 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.2%.

1881 census count

615

Ranked #5,717

Modern count

659

2016, ranked #8,088

Peak year

1911

871 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Want had 615 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,717 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 659 in 2016, ranked #8,088.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 871 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Want surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Want surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Want 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 350 #6,733
1861 historical 356 #7,171
1881 historical 615 #5,717
1891 historical 708 #5,548
1901 historical 774 #5,796
1911 historical 871 #5,105
1997 modern 728 #7,029
1998 modern 764 #6,999
1999 modern 750 #7,144
2000 modern 753 #7,078
2001 modern 730 #7,118
2002 modern 740 #7,180
2003 modern 701 #7,381
2004 modern 700 #7,400
2005 modern 686 #7,472
2006 modern 665 #7,678
2007 modern 652 #7,845
2008 modern 641 #7,993
2009 modern 664 #7,945
2010 modern 666 #8,091
2011 modern 654 #8,115
2012 modern 654 #8,040
2013 modern 685 #7,877
2014 modern 689 #7,875
2015 modern 671 #7,984
2016 modern 659 #8,088

Geography

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Where Wants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, North East Lincolnshire, Rutland and South Cambridgeshire. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 010 Cotswold
2 North East Lincolnshire 002 North East Lincolnshire
3 Rutland 001 Rutland
4 Rutland 004 Rutland
5 South Cambridgeshire 013 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Want

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Want

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Want surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Want household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Want is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Want is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Want falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Want

The surname WANT is of English origin, believed to have derived from the Old English word "want," which initially meant to be lacking or deficient in something. It likely emerged as a descriptive name or nickname for someone who appeared to be in need or impoverished.

The earliest known record of the WANT surname dates back to the 13th century in East Anglia, England. It appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk from 1275, where a William Want is mentioned. This region was likely the original stronghold of the WANT family.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Sir John Want (c. 1330-1398), a knight from Norfolk who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the French. He was rewarded with lands in Suffolk for his service to the crown.

In the 16th century, the WANT surname spread to other parts of England, including Gloucestershire and Somerset. The Gloucestershire Visitation of 1623 mentions a family of Wants residing in the village of Marshfield.

Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Want (c. 1590-1668), a prominent lawyer and member of the Inner Temple in London. He served as a justice of the peace for Middlesex and was involved in several high-profile legal cases of his time.

As the WANT family continued to grow and disperse throughout England, various spellings emerged, such as Wante, Waunts, and Wauntes. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the individual preferences of scribes.

One notable figure from the 18th century was Sir John Want (1718-1793), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He donated significant sums to various charitable causes and funded the construction of several schools in the city.

In the 19th century, the WANT surname spread further afield, with families settling in various parts of the British Empire, including Australia, Canada, and South Africa. One notable bearer from this period was William Want (1819-1891), a British explorer and naturalist who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions.

Other notable individuals with the WANT surname include Sir Frederick Want (1856-1932), a British military officer who served in the Boer War and World War I, and Alice Want (1892-1978), an American writer and poet whose works focused on rural life and nature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Want families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Want 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. Middlesex leads with 139 Wants recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.32x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 139 2.32x
Norfolk 98 10.64x
Hertfordshire 61 14.78x
Lancashire 48 0.68x
Kent 46 2.25x
Surrey 44 1.51x
Essex 31 2.62x
Wiltshire 30 5.66x
Hampshire 28 2.28x
Worcestershire 22 2.81x
Yorkshire 20 0.34x
Warwickshire 9 0.60x
Northamptonshire 7 1.24x
Staffordshire 7 0.35x
Lincolnshire 5 0.52x
Sussex 5 0.50x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.05x
Gloucestershire 3 0.26x
Northumberland 3 0.34x
Glamorgan 2 0.19x
Durham 1 0.06x
Fife 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ware in Hertfordshire leads with 45 Wants recorded in 1881 and an index of 380.39x.

Place Total Index
Ware 45 380.39x
Islington London 27 4.65x
Shoreditch London 27 10.40x
Heigham 21 42.48x
Eynsford 15 428.57x
Heaton Norris 14 34.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 10.63x
Folkestone 12 30.27x
Bethnal Green London 11 4.23x
Elham 10 409.84x
Hackney London 10 2.98x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 10 216.45x
West Ham 10 3.83x
Westminster St James 10 16.24x
Wootton St Lawrence 10 490.20x
Beeching Stoke 9 2647.06x
Birmingham 9 1.79x
Chelsea London 9 4.99x
Egham 9 50.22x
Manchester 9 2.82x
Tasburgh 9 989.01x
Tottenham 9 9.44x
Enfield 8 20.36x
Kirkleatham 7 87.39x
Leeds 7 2.09x
Little Hallingbury 7 583.33x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 7 125.00x
South Shoebury 7 147.37x
Southwark Christchurch 7 24.94x
Walsall Foreign 7 6.70x
Warblington 7 143.74x
Bromley London 6 4.55x
Burnley 6 10.03x
Elmbridge 6 869.57x
Havant 6 96.46x
Hevingham 6 382.17x
Kings Norton 6 8.55x
Newington 6 2.71x
Norwich St Stephen 6 71.01x
Wanstead 6 28.99x
Lakenham 5 38.23x
Manningford Bohun 5 1041.67x
Seale 5 267.38x
Southwood 5 5555.56x
Sprowston 5 123.15x
St Giles In Fields 5 24.20x
Standground 5 185.19x
Basingstoke 4 28.33x
Bromham 4 167.36x
Brotton 4 51.61x
Great Amwell 4 96.62x
Harting 4 152.67x
Hertford St John 4 65.04x
Holt 4 816.33x
Leatherhead 4 54.72x
Thorney 4 95.01x
West Tofts 4 1025.64x
Wilcott 4 347.83x
Alton Priors 3 731.71x
Bengeo 3 62.63x
Brandon 3 60.61x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.12x
Crowle 3 277.78x
Cullercoates 3 107.14x
Great Yarmouth 3 3.93x
Greenwich 3 3.15x
Habergham Eaves 3 4.62x
Lewisham 3 2.75x
Norwich St Clement 3 28.09x
Saxlingham Thorpe 3 1000.00x
Shenley 3 110.29x
Whalley 3 28.96x
Battersea 2 0.91x
Clee With Weelsby 2 9.54x
Dursley 2 41.41x
Hainford 2 155.04x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 2.00x
Norwich St Peter 2 33.11x
St James Dukes Place 2 156.25x
St Luke London 2 2.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 26
Emma 16
Jane 15
Eliza 12
Sarah 12
Ann 11
Emily 11
Alice 9
Annie 6
Charlotte 5
Ellen 5
Fanny 5
Hannah 5
Harriet 5
Kate 5
Maria 5
Anne 4
Edith 4
Lydia 4
Margaret 4
Caroline 3
Esther 3
Flora 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Ethel 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Nancy 2
Penelope 2
Susannah 2
Alma 1
Amelia 1
Attie 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Dorcas 1
Easter 1
Elberti 1
Elenor 1
Eliz. 1
Frances 1
Francess 1
Georgenia 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
George 36
John 36
James 30
Thomas 18
Henry 16
Robert 16
Charles 14
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Edward 8
Samuel 7
Albert 4
Fredrick 4
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Philip 3
Andrew 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frederic 2
Herbert 2
Hy. 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Noah 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Benjamin 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Fredck. 1
Fredric 1
Geo. 1
Gustave 1
Horace 1
Hyman 1
Julius 1
Louis 1
Major 1
Marcus 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
T. 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Want surname: questions and answers

How common was the Want surname in 1881?

In 1881, 615 people were recorded with the Want surname. That placed it at #5,717 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Want surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 659 in 2016. That gives Want a modern rank of #8,088.

What does the Want surname mean?

English word derived from the Middle English meaning "to lack or be deficient".

What does the Want map show?

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