NameCensus.

UK surname

Wigfall

Derived from a place name meaning "a waterfall near a building used for ceremonial dances."

In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Wigfall surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 123, ranked #27,115, down from #20,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and Bringhurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Daventry and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wigfall is 132 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.9%.

1881 census count

94

Ranked #20,467

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

1901

132 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wigfall had 94 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 132 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wigfall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wigfall surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wigfall 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 57 #26,718
1881 historical 94 #20,467
1891 historical 103 #23,558
1901 historical 132 #19,469
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 121 #24,677
1999 modern 123 #24,643
2000 modern 113 #25,843
2001 modern 112 #25,644
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 110 #26,220
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 124 #24,529
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 113 #27,520
2010 modern 121 #27,005
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

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Where Wigfalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Bringhurst, Battersea and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Daventry, Lambeth, Sheffield and Rutland. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
3 Bringhurst Rutland
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 015 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Daventry 005 Daventry
3 Lambeth 018 Lambeth
4 Sheffield 071 Sheffield
5 Rutland 001 Rutland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wigfall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wigfall

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

Wigfall is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wigfall falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wigfall

The surname Wigfall has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "wic" meaning a dwelling or village, and "fall" meaning a meadow or enclosure. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in a village surrounded by meadows or enclosed fields.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Wigfall surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Wycfalle." This document was a census-like record of landowners in England, indicating that individuals with this surname were present during the 13th century.

The Wigfall name has also been documented in various historical records, such as the Feet of Fines for Lancashire in 1346, where it appears as "Wygfall." Feet of Fines were legal documents recording the transfer of land ownership, providing valuable insights into the geographical distribution of surnames.

In the 16th century, the Wigfall surname appears in the parish records of Chorley, Lancashire, with the spelling variations "Wigfell" and "Wygfall." This region is likely where the name originated and where some of the earliest bearers of the surname were found.

One notable individual with the Wigfall surname was Sir Robert Wigfall (1585-1658), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Thetford during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was John Wigfall (1616-1675), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire.

During the 17th century, the Wigfall name also appears in records from other parts of England, such as Essex and Gloucestershire, indicating the spread of the surname beyond its original homeland.

In the 18th century, William Wigfall (1734-1805) was a renowned clockmaker from London, known for his exceptional craftsmanship and innovative designs. His clocks are highly prized by collectors today.

Another notable bearer of the Wigfall name was James Wigfall (1786-1856), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a successful merchant and shipowner in Liverpool.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wigfall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wigfall 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. Yorkshire leads with 58 Wigfalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.32x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 58 6.32x
Lincolnshire 13 8.77x
Leicestershire 10 9.73x
Surrey 8 1.77x
Middlesex 2 0.22x
Northamptonshire 2 2.29x
Oxfordshire 2 3.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 16 Wigfalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.74x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 16 54.74x
Ecclesall Bierlow 13 69.59x
Great Easton 10 5882.35x
Brightside Bierlow 9 49.97x
Battersea 8 23.46x
Boston 8 177.78x
Heeley 4 143.37x
Pontefract 4 202.02x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 4 192.31x
Conisbrough 3 348.84x
Oxford St Thomas 2 74.91x
Peterborough 2 31.70x
Sandal Magna 2 147.06x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 11.70x
Doncaster 1 14.90x
Ecclesfield 1 14.86x
Horton In Bradford 1 6.97x
Islington London 1 1.11x
Kirton 1 169.49x
Monkhill 1 5000.00x
Nether Hallam 1 8.05x
Tanshelf 1 136.99x
Willesden 1 11.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 4
Ann 3
Florence 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Alicia 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elleanor 1
Emma 1
Gertrude 1
Harret 1
Mitilda 1
Myra 1
Pattie 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 6
Albert 3
Charles 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Alfd.Jas. 1
Alfred 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Grace 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Jos.W. 1
Josh. 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Saml.Edwd. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Wilfrid 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Wigfall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wigfall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Wigfall surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wigfall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Wigfall a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Wigfall surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "a waterfall near a building used for ceremonial dances."

What does the Wigfall map show?

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