NameCensus.

UK surname

Wide

A surname derived from a physical characteristic or describing someone of a stout or broad build.

In the 1881 census there were 128 people recorded with the Wide surname, ranking it #17,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, down from #17,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sampford Peverell, Burlescombe, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Whitchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wide is 252 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.8%.

1881 census count

128

Ranked #17,079

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

1861

252 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wide had 128 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 252 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wide surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wide surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wide 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 89 #18,446
1861 historical 252 #9,804
1881 historical 128 #17,079
1891 historical 159 #17,636
1901 historical 144 #18,505
1911 historical 178 #16,073
1997 modern 131 #22,927
1998 modern 138 #22,814
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 124 #24,114
2002 modern 130 #23,903
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 132 #25,859
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Wides are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sampford Peverell, Burlescombe, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Whitchurch, Wellington and Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly. 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 Sampford Peverell, Burlescombe Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Whitchurch Glamorganshire
4 Wellington Somerset
5 Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 009 Taunton Deane
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 022 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 015 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Taunton Deane 007 Taunton Deane
5 Caerphilly 024 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wide

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wide

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wide is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Wide is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wide falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wide

The surname Wide traces its origins to England, specifically to the Middle Ages around the 12th and 13th centuries. The name is linked to Old English words and possibly derives from the Old English adjective "wīd," which means "broad" or "wide." This descriptor was likely used to refer to individuals who either lived in wide open spaces, such as expansive fields or plains, or had a physically broad stature.

Wide appears in historical references, including tax records and local documents from medieval England. One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname comes from the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Richard Wide was mentioned. The Hundred Rolls were a census-like survey commissioned by King Edward I, making this reference particularly valuable for tracing the name’s early usage.

Throughout history, the name can be found in various records with slight variations in spelling such as Wyd, Wyde, and Wyde. For example, a John Wyde was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. This documentation highlights the geographical spread and minor orthographic differences of the surname as it evolved.

One notable historical figure with the surname Wide was Thomas Wide, born circa 1490 and died in 1560. He was a landowner in Somerset, and his activities are documented in various land transactions and court cases of the period. Another significant bearer of the surname was Nicholas Wide, a merchant in London in the early 17th century, whose business dealings are recorded in the London Port Books from around 1620.

Additionally, in the 18th century, a Samuel Wide, born in 1705 and died in 1767, gained recognition as a scholar and author. His contributions to literature, particularly his collections of essays, left an indelible mark on the intellectual landscape of his time. Further back, in the medieval period, the parish records of Wiltshire mention a Robert Wide, baptized in 1584, providing insight into the enduring presence of the name in the region.

In summary, the surname Wide has a rich history rooted in medieval England, with its origins linked to descriptive adjectives in Old English. Its presence in historical documents such as the Hundred Rolls and Subsidy Rolls, and its appearance in various regions and spellings, underscore its longstanding presence. The surname has been borne by various notable individuals over the centuries, from landowners and merchants to scholars, showcasing its diverse legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wide families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wide 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. Devon leads with 46 Wides recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.56x.

County Total Index
Devon 46 17.56x
Somerset 33 16.29x
Glamorgan 23 10.50x
Middlesex 10 0.79x
Yorkshire 5 0.40x
Worcestershire 4 2.43x
Northumberland 2 1.07x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.18x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.97x
Gloucestershire 1 0.41x
Lincolnshire 1 0.50x
Surrey 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hemyock in Devon leads with 18 Wides recorded in 1881 and an index of 4615.38x.

Place Total Index
Hemyock 18 4615.38x
Wellington 11 400.00x
Whitchurch 9 762.71x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 116.67x
Cardiff St Mary 6 49.71x
Llanishen 6 3000.00x
St Marylebone London 6 8.93x
Burnham 5 324.68x
Culmstock 5 1351.35x
Taunton St James 5 169.49x
Bridgewater 4 72.73x
Burlescombe 4 1111.11x
Corfe 4 2352.94x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 19.82x
Sculcoates 4 20.23x
Wolverley 4 277.78x
St Pancras London 3 2.96x
Stoke Damerel 3 16.37x
Roath 2 20.10x
Standard Hill 2 500.00x
Taunton St Mary 2 53.76x
Tynemouth 2 19.94x
Bedminster 1 5.25x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 4.30x
Creech St Michael 1 196.08x
Exeter St Kerrian 1 555.56x
Great Grimsby 1 7.83x
Hampstead London 1 5.10x
Lambeth 1 0.91x
Llanbeblig 1 19.38x
Norton In Malton 1 66.23x
Payhembury 1 526.32x
Tormoham 1 9.03x
Willand 1 666.67x
Yarcombe 1 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 9
Mary 6
Sarah 4
Emily 3
Jane 3
Rose 3
Ann 2
Bessie 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Henrietta 2
Louisa 2
A.F. 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Besse 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clarissa 1
E. 1
E.A. 1
Ellen 1
Emly 1
Ester 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Laura 1
Lilla 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Miriam 1
Rosalie 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Wide surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wide surname in 1881?

In 1881, 128 people were recorded with the Wide surname. That placed it at #17,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wide surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Wide a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Wide surname mean?

A surname derived from a physical characteristic or describing someone of a stout or broad build.

What does the Wide map show?

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