NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilbraham

A locational surname derived from the place name Wilbraham in Cambridgeshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 442 people recorded with the Wilbraham surname, ranking it #7,414 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 735, ranked #7,416, down from #7,414 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Radcliffe, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newport, Plymouth and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilbraham is 750 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.3%.

1881 census count

442

Ranked #7,414

Modern count

735

2016, ranked #7,416

Peak year

2013

750 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilbraham had 442 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,414 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 735 in 2016, ranked #7,416.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 681 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Wilbraham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilbraham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilbraham 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 320 #7,250
1861 historical 286 #8,793
1881 historical 442 #7,414
1891 historical 557 #6,807
1901 historical 631 #6,795
1911 historical 681 #6,206
1997 modern 631 #7,854
1998 modern 703 #7,455
1999 modern 683 #7,659
2000 modern 725 #7,300
2001 modern 708 #7,308
2002 modern 720 #7,346
2003 modern 704 #7,357
2004 modern 719 #7,231
2005 modern 701 #7,338
2006 modern 690 #7,448
2007 modern 706 #7,372
2008 modern 707 #7,426
2009 modern 717 #7,508
2010 modern 727 #7,562
2011 modern 711 #7,606
2012 modern 729 #7,385
2013 modern 750 #7,344
2014 modern 743 #7,442
2015 modern 741 #7,377
2016 modern 735 #7,416

Geography

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Where Wilbrahams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Radcliffe, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity, Alfreton and Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newport, Plymouth, Flintshire and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Radcliffe Lancashire
2 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
3 Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity Cheshire
4 Alfreton Derbyshire
5 Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newport 020 Newport
2 Plymouth 026 Plymouth
3 Flintshire 017 Flintshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 032 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Flintshire 006 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilbraham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilbraham

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Wilbraham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Wilbraham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Wilbraham is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Wilbraham is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wilbraham falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wilbraham

The surname Wilbraham originates from England, and its earliest roots can be traced back to the medieval period, specifically around the 12th and 13th centuries. It is a toponymic surname, meaning it is derived from a place name. The name Wilbraham is linked to the parishes of Great Wilbraham and Little Wilbraham in Cambridgeshire, England.

The place name Wilbraham itself comes from the Old English personal name Wilburh combined with the Old English word ham, which means homestead or village. The meaning of the surname can be understood as "Wilburh's homestead." Alternative older spellings of the place name include Wilburgham.

One of the earliest historical references to the surname Wilbraham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the village of Wilbraham in Cambridgeshire is listed. This suggests that the name was in use at least by the Norman Conquest. Records indicate that the Wilbraham family established themselves as a prominent landowning family in the region.

The earliest recorded example of the surname in written records appears in the 13th century. Richard de Wilburgham, also known as Richard Wilbraham, was documented in the early 1200s, providing one of the earliest examples of the surname being used.

A notable individual carrying the surname is Sir Roger Wilbraham (1553-1616), who was a distinguished lawyer and Solicitor-General for Ireland. He cemented the family's status as important figures in English society.

Thomas Wilbraham, another significant historical figure, was a Member of Parliament for Cheshire in the late 17th century. Born in 1642, he played a key role during his tenure, reflecting the ongoing influence of the Wilbraham family in English politics.

Sir George Wilbraham (1779-1852) was another prominent member of the family. He served as the High Sheriff of Cheshire and was known for his contributions to local governance and his involvement in agricultural improvements.

Esther Wilbraham, known for her philanthropy and support of educational causes in the 19th century, is another notable figure. Her efforts contributed significantly to the betterment of community resources and reflect the family's sustained commitment to public service.

Throughout English history, the Wilbraham surname has been associated with landownership, public service, and legal prominence. The family's legacy, traced through multiple generations, illustrates the enduring nature of the surname and its origins in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilbraham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilbraham 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. Cheshire leads with 101 Wilbrahams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.59x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 101 10.59x
Lancashire 82 1.60x
Derbyshire 67 9.90x
Staffordshire 45 3.08x
Surrey 34 1.61x
Middlesex 32 0.74x
Nottinghamshire 15 2.58x
Flintshire 11 9.47x
Durham 9 0.70x
Shropshire 9 2.41x
Yorkshire 7 0.16x
Sussex 6 0.82x
Hertfordshire 4 1.34x
Kent 4 0.27x
Worcestershire 3 0.53x
Denbighshire 2 1.23x
Devon 2 0.22x
Hampshire 2 0.23x
Huntingdonshire 2 2.33x
Somerset 2 0.29x
Warwickshire 2 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.38x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alfreton in Derbyshire leads with 34 Wilbrahams recorded in 1881 and an index of 165.45x.

Place Total Index
Alfreton 34 165.45x
Stoke Upon Trent 34 21.98x
Chester St Oswald 27 156.34x
Everton 21 12.85x
Radcliffe 16 64.72x
Chester St John Baptist 13 75.80x
Mile End Old Town 10 14.66x
Tranmere 10 28.52x
Claylane 9 95.74x
Sutton In Macclesfield 9 90.91x
Camberwell 8 2.90x
Macclesfield 7 16.51x
Newington 7 4.39x
Oakmere 7 1166.67x
Selston 7 107.53x
Woodthorpe 7 578.51x
Chadderton 6 23.93x
Church Coppenhall 6 140.85x
Hackney London 6 2.48x
Hastings St Mary 6 33.09x
Lower Penn 6 1200.00x
Storeton 6 1666.67x
Benfieldside 5 59.10x
Brampton 5 52.85x
Kirkdale 5 5.80x
Pilkington 5 25.67x
Richmond 5 16.94x
Sheffield 5 3.67x
Alsager 4 168.78x
Birkenhead 4 5.26x
Crook Billy Row 4 24.30x
Dore 4 310.08x
Drayton In Hales 4 51.95x
Islington London 4 0.96x
Kirkby In Ashfield 4 64.21x
Liverpool 4 1.28x
Malpas Iscoyd 4 655.74x
Newcastle Under Lyme 4 15.50x
St Marylebone London 4 1.73x
Bermondsey 3 2.33x
Bronington 3 300.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.68x
Dawley 3 22.09x
Lambeth 3 0.80x
Mathon 3 180.72x
Monks Coppenhall 3 8.34x
Salford 3 1.99x
Southwark Christchurch 3 14.81x
Sutton In Ashfield 3 23.73x
Tottenham 3 4.36x
Toxteth Park 3 1.73x
Atherton 2 10.72x
Battersea 2 1.26x
Bedworth 2 25.16x
Blackrod 2 31.40x
Broughton 2 31.15x
Clevedon 2 27.66x
Croydon 2 1.71x
Didsbury 2 29.37x
Dover St Mary Virgin 2 14.02x
Farnborough 2 21.51x
Hitchin 2 14.88x
Holywell 2 13.72x
Hope 2 34.60x
Horsley 2 49.14x
Huntingdon St Mary 2 93.02x
Kensington London 2 0.83x
Knebworth 2 512.82x
Little Lever 2 30.49x
Newton 2 5.06x
Staines 2 29.24x
Stoke Damerel 2 3.18x
Widnes 2 5.41x
Lostock Gralam 1 86.96x
Mucklestone 1 71.43x
Newbold Dunston 1 15.55x
Oswestry Town 1 8.37x
Paddington London 1 0.63x
Pilsley 1 44.84x
Thingwell 1 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 23
William 18
John 16
Thomas 14
James 12
Henry 9
Joseph 9
Charles 8
Arthur 7
Samuel 7
Alfred 5
Albert 4
Isaac 3
Mathew 3
Matthew 3
Robert 3
Thos. 3
Aaron 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Horace 2
Hy. 2
Roger 2
Wm. 2
Claude 1
Ebenezer 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Ge. 1
Geo. 1
H.G. 1
Hugh 1
Isaiah 1
J. 1
Jos.G. 1
Lloyd 1
Martin 1
Maurice 1
Not 1
Owen 1
Payser 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
R. 1
Ralph 1
Randle 1
Reginald 1

FAQ

Wilbraham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilbraham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 442 people were recorded with the Wilbraham surname. That placed it at #7,414 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilbraham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 735 in 2016. That gives Wilbraham a modern rank of #7,416.

What does the Wilbraham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the place name Wilbraham in Cambridgeshire, England.

What does the Wilbraham map show?

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