NameCensus.

UK surname

Widnall

In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Widnall surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #21,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Peter, Silkstone and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Fenland and Barrow-in-Furness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Widnall is 131 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.4%.

1881 census count

88

Ranked #21,211

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

1901

131 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Widnall had 88 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Widnall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Widnall surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Widnall 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 77 #23,975
1881 historical 88 #21,211
1891 historical 126 #20,604
1901 historical 131 #19,552
1911 historical 126 #19,831
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 105 #26,620
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 108 #26,486
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 115 #27,207
2010 modern 120 #27,124
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 119 #27,684
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Widnalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Peter, Silkstone, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Collingham, North and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Fenland, Barrow-in-Furness and Nottingham. 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 St Peter Derbyshire
2 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Collingham, North Nottinghamshire
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 024 Barnsley
2 Fenland 006 Fenland
3 Barrow-in-Furness 004 Barrow-in-Furness
4 Barrow-in-Furness 010 Barrow-in-Furness
5 Nottingham 040 Nottingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Widnall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Widnall

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Widnall 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

Widnall is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Widnall 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 Widnall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Widnall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Widnall 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 47 Widnalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.63x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 47 40.63x
Yorkshire 16 1.88x
Derbyshire 8 5.95x
Middlesex 6 0.70x
Leicestershire 5 5.25x
Lancashire 3 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 2 3.68x
Lincolnshire 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tythby in Nottinghamshire leads with 8 Widnalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 40000.00x.

Place Total Index
Tythby 8 40000.00x
Norton 7 630.63x
North Collingham 6 2222.22x
St Pancras London 6 8.68x
Thoroton 6 15000.00x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 63.13x
Beeston 5 375.94x
Calverton 5 1351.35x
Horton In Bradford 5 37.65x
Loughborough 5 115.74x
Great Driffield 3 171.43x
Lowdham 3 1363.64x
Nottingham St Nicholas 3 189.87x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 2 294.12x
Granby Sutton 2 1666.67x
Grantchester 2 588.24x
Nottingham St Mary 2 6.68x
Snenton 2 43.96x
Sutton On Trent 2 714.29x
Bridlington 1 51.28x
Cropwell Butler 1 625.00x
Drypool 1 76.92x
Farndon 1 476.19x
Litchurch 1 18.48x
Liverpool 1 1.62x
Screveton 1 2000.00x
Sheffield 1 3.69x
St Botolph Lincoln 1 101.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Robert 6
John 5
James 3
Thomas 3
William 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
George 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Lance 1
Mary 1
Robt. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Widnall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Widnall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Widnall surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Widnall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Widnall a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Widnall map show?

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