NameCensus.

UK surname

Widdowson

A surname referring to the son of a widow.

In the 1881 census there were 1,590 people recorded with the Widdowson surname, ranking it #2,671 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,348, ranked #2,784, down from #2,671 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dalbeattie, Bolsover and Broxtowe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Widdowson is 2,530 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.7%.

1881 census count

1,590

Ranked #2,671

Modern count

2,348

2016, ranked #2,784

Peak year

1999

2,530 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Widdowson had 1,590 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,671 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,348 in 2016, ranked #2,784.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,429 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Widdowson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Widdowson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Widdowson 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 919 #3,001
1861 historical 1,072 #2,627
1881 historical 1,590 #2,671
1891 historical 1,903 #2,415
1901 historical 2,225 #2,429
1911 historical 2,429 #2,111
1997 modern 2,432 #2,588
1998 modern 2,517 #2,594
1999 modern 2,530 #2,606
2000 modern 2,461 #2,653
2001 modern 2,433 #2,619
2002 modern 2,470 #2,648
2003 modern 2,422 #2,637
2004 modern 2,407 #2,649
2005 modern 2,402 #2,634
2006 modern 2,409 #2,621
2007 modern 2,416 #2,644
2008 modern 2,426 #2,646
2009 modern 2,484 #2,664
2010 modern 2,518 #2,682
2011 modern 2,472 #2,698
2012 modern 2,395 #2,716
2013 modern 2,398 #2,758
2014 modern 2,391 #2,777
2015 modern 2,356 #2,783
2016 modern 2,348 #2,784

Geography

Back to top

Where Widdowsons are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Dalbeattie, Bolsover, Broxtowe and Melton. 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 Basford Nottinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Chesterfield Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dalbeattie Dumfries and Galloway
2 Bolsover 006 Bolsover
3 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
4 Broxtowe 004 Broxtowe
5 Melton 001 Melton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Widdowson

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Widdowson

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Widdowson is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Widdowson is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Widdowson 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 Widdowson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Widdowson

The surname Widdowson originates from England and can be traced back to the medieval period. This surname is predominantly found in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire regions. Etymologically, Widdowson is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the given name of an ancestor. Specifically, it derives from the Old English word widuwe, meaning widow, and the suffix son, indicating "son of." Therefore, it originally referred to the "son of a widow."

The surname Widdowson appears in several historical records and manuscripts. One of the earliest instances of the name Widdowson can be traced to the Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a certain Alicia Wydewson was listed. This usage highlights the common medieval practice of adding -son to the occupations, statuses, or conditions defining the parent, in this case, a widow. Another early recorded example is from the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327, where a John Widowsone is mentioned.

One of the significant and earliest bearers of the surname was William Widdowson, born circa 1420 in Derbyshire. He was a landowner whose family held considerable estate in the region. Another notable individual was Thomas Widdowson, born in the early 1500s, who was recorded as a yeoman in the Hearth Tax records of Nottinghamshire in 1664. His family was known for its contributions to local agriculture and trade.

The name evolved in different regions with slight variations. For example, in the 1600s, Joseph Wydowson was recorded in parish records of Lincolnshire. His descendants are known to have migrated to North America in the early 1700s, further spreading the surname.

Henry Widdowson, born in 1611 in Derbyshire, was another prominent figure from the 17th century. He served as a local magistrate and had a significant influence on the civic affairs of the region. He passed away in 1682, leaving behind a legacy of civic duty and public service.

In more recent history, George Widdowson, born in 1840 and died in 1903, was a notable industrialist during the Victorian era. His inventions and innovations in the field of textile manufacturing earned him recognition in various industrial circles throughout England.

Throughout its history, the surname Widdowson has maintained a consistent presence in English records, reflecting its roots in the medieval society where surnames often derived from an individual's personal circumstances or occupational background.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Widdowson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Widdowson 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 506 Widdowsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.19x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 506 24.19x
Derbyshire 328 13.50x
Yorkshire 220 1.43x
Leicestershire 201 11.68x
Lancashire 98 0.53x
Lincolnshire 55 2.22x
Cheshire 40 1.17x
Warwickshire 26 0.66x
Middlesex 22 0.14x
Staffordshire 18 0.34x
Surrey 16 0.21x
Northamptonshire 9 0.62x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.85x
Cumberland 6 0.45x
Hertfordshire 6 0.56x
Durham 5 0.11x
Kent 5 0.09x
Gloucestershire 4 0.13x
Midlothian 4 0.19x
Monmouthshire 4 0.36x
Sussex 4 0.15x
Flintshire 2 0.48x
Suffolk 2 0.11x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 118 Widdowsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.81x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 118 21.81x
Basford 67 69.49x
Staveley 43 99.70x
Hasland 40 161.68x
Sileby 40 368.66x
Whittington 39 116.00x
Ecclesall Bierlow 37 11.83x
Cropwell Butler 32 1114.98x
Radford 29 27.29x
Loughborough 27 34.58x
Bulwell 23 50.57x
Chesterfield 23 25.25x
Cropwell Bishop 22 650.89x
Leicester St Margaret 22 5.24x
Hathern 21 301.29x
Beighton 20 181.65x
Handsworth 19 46.73x
Leicester St Mary 19 13.67x
Hucknall Torkard 18 33.93x
Granby Sutton 17 809.52x
Snenton 17 20.68x
Aston 16 1.48x
Hulme 16 4.16x
Ruddington 16 114.04x
Dronfield 15 48.17x
Sheffield 14 2.86x
Spittlegate 14 40.79x
Colston Bassett 13 787.88x
Hoyland Nether 13 34.46x
Hyde 13 12.86x
Buxton 12 58.34x
Eckington 12 20.33x
Markfield 12 140.68x
Nether Hallam 12 5.77x
Threckingham Swaton 12 784.31x
West Derby 12 2.23x
Brampton 11 32.39x
Brimington 11 59.62x
Worksop 11 17.73x
Barlborough 10 111.36x
Burton Upon Trent 10 8.16x
Castle Donnington 10 70.08x
Dukinfield 10 6.32x
Greasley 10 21.19x
Anstey 9 132.35x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 6.28x
Codnor Loscoe 9 46.78x
Dodworth 9 56.36x
Epworth 9 77.79x
Grantham 9 27.83x
Hornsey 9 4.59x
Long Eaton 9 28.06x
Newark Upon Trent 9 11.97x
Bingham 8 89.99x
Brightside Bierlow 8 2.65x
Eskdaleside 8 105.82x
Everton 8 1.36x
Farndon 8 215.05x
Gunthorpe 8 465.12x
Hoveringham 8 459.77x
Ilkestonderbypart 8 112.52x
Leeds 8 0.92x
Pendleton In Salford 8 3.65x
Romiley 8 82.82x
Alfreton 7 9.48x
Derby St Werburgh 7 4.99x
Didsbury 7 28.63x
Droylsden 7 11.65x
Kettering 7 11.86x
Lambeth 7 0.52x
Lichfield St Michael 7 42.58x
Mapperley 7 304.35x
Penn 7 119.86x
Thorne 7 36.69x
Keyworth 6 126.32x
Nailstone 6 153.06x
Oldham 6 1.01x
Rawmarsh 6 11.04x
St Cuthbert W O 6 9.21x
Willoughby On Wolds 6 235.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 113
Sarah 75
Elizabeth 68
Ann 38
Emma 32
Annie 26
Eliza 26
Alice 22
Hannah 21
Jane 17
Ellen 16
Frances 14
Lucy 14
Martha 14
Clara 12
Harriett 12
Florence 10
Emily 9
Margaret 8
Maria 8
Ada 7
Fanny 7
Gertrude 7
Louisa 7
Betsy 6
Catherine 6
Bertha 5
Charlotte 5
Elizth. 5
Harriet 5
Lydia 5
Anne 4
Kate 4
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Flora 3
Isabella 3
Jemima 3
Mabel 3
Millicent 3
Phebe 3
Rebecca 3
Susanna 3
Amy 2
Cecilia 2
Henrietta 2
Lizzie 2
Marrian 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 105
William 105
George 65
Thomas 55
James 39
Henry 37
Joseph 36
Charles 30
Robert 24
Walter 22
Arthur 17
Edward 16
Alfred 13
Ernest 13
Harry 13
Samuel 13
Albert 11
Frank 11
Frederick 11
Edwin 9
Richard 8
Thos. 7
Fred 6
Herbert 6
Sam 6
Benjamin 5
Jabez 4
Mark 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Francis 3
Isaac 3
Joe 3
Matthew 3
Reuben 3
Sidney 3
Wilfred 3
Abraham 2
Allan 2
Amos 2
Andrew 2
Benjaman 2
Earnest 2
Fredk. 2
Godfrey 2
Harold 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Peter 2

FAQ

Widdowson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Widdowson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,590 people were recorded with the Widdowson surname. That placed it at #2,671 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Widdowson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,348 in 2016. That gives Widdowson a modern rank of #2,784.

What does the Widdowson surname mean?

A surname referring to the son of a widow.

What does the Widdowson map show?

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