NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilce

An English habitational surname referring to someone from Wilce, Northumberland.

In the 1881 census there were 216 people recorded with the Wilce surname, ranking it #12,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 686, ranked #7,823, up from #12,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean and Ross Foreign and Ross Borough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilce is 723 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 217.6%.

1881 census count

216

Ranked #12,222

Modern count

686

2016, ranked #7,823

Peak year

2013

723 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilce had 216 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 686 in 2016, ranked #7,823.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 336 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wilce surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilce surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilce 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 187 #10,978
1861 historical 127 #17,469
1881 historical 216 #12,222
1891 historical 276 #11,810
1901 historical 336 #10,762
1911 historical 325 #10,783
1997 modern 641 #7,739
1998 modern 669 #7,742
1999 modern 685 #7,639
2000 modern 681 #7,654
2001 modern 651 #7,785
2002 modern 675 #7,730
2003 modern 659 #7,749
2004 modern 673 #7,643
2005 modern 677 #7,542
2006 modern 666 #7,659
2007 modern 664 #7,745
2008 modern 662 #7,800
2009 modern 671 #7,891
2010 modern 698 #7,797
2011 modern 690 #7,773
2012 modern 696 #7,638
2013 modern 723 #7,545
2014 modern 723 #7,585
2015 modern 700 #7,710
2016 modern 686 #7,823

Geography

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Where Wilces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Ross Foreign and Ross Borough, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and St Kew. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean and Cornwall. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
3 Ross Foreign and Ross Borough Herefordshire
4 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
5 St Kew Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 003 Forest of Dean
2 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
4 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
5 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilce

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilce

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Wilce is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wilce 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

Wilce 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 Wilce is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wilce

The surname Wilce has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the southwestern regions, particularly around Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. The name likely derives from an Old English personal name or a combination of elements signifying "will" or "desire" and "ceorl" meaning "freeman" or "peasant".

Historical references to the surname Wilce can be traced back to various old records. One of the earliest mentions is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Richard Wilce is documented. This early appearance suggests the name was already established by the 14th century.

In the 16th century, there is a recorded instance of a John Wilce in the parish registers of St Michael's Church in Gloucester. Another notable mention is of Thomas Wilce in the Muster Rolls of Herefordshire in 1581. These records not only mark the surname's presence in specific regions but also provide insight into the individuals bearing the name during this period.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Wilce surname continued to appear in various legal documents and parish records. A prominent example is William Wilce, born in 1645, who served as a yeoman in Gloucestershire and is mentioned in the Hearth Tax records of 1671. This period also saw the migration of some individuals with the surname to other parts of England and the New World.

The 19th century provided more tangible references to the Wilce surname. One notable figure is Frederick Wilce, born in 1833, who gained recognition as a local landowner and philanthropist in Herefordshire. Another significant person is George Wilce, born in 1852, who became a respected solicitor in London, contributing to the legal profession and leaving a mark on the city's historical records.

Throughout its history, the Wilce surname has shown a consistent presence in the southwestern regions of England and has been borne by individuals of varying social standings, from freemen and yeomen to professionals. The name's rich etymological roots and historical appearances underscore its enduring legacy in English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilce families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilce 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. Gloucestershire leads with 113 Wilces recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.35x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 113 27.35x
Cornwall 49 20.54x
Herefordshire 11 12.73x
Somerset 10 2.95x
Devon 6 1.37x
Middlesex 6 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 5 2.56x
Kent 3 0.42x
Surrey 3 0.29x
Wiltshire 3 1.61x
Yorkshire 2 0.10x
Bedfordshire 1 0.92x
Dorset 1 0.72x
Hampshire 1 0.23x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Shropshire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westbury On Severn East in Gloucestershire leads with 62 Wilces recorded in 1881 and an index of 663.81x.

Place Total Index
Westbury On Severn East 62 663.81x
St Kew 14 1772.15x
Ruardean 13 1397.85x
St Neot 11 1170.21x
West Dean 11 163.93x
Falmouth 7 82.94x
Newland 6 172.91x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 13.69x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 12.85x
Kenwyn 5 80.13x
Linton In Newent 5 746.27x
Membury 5 1063.83x
Combe St Nicholas 4 487.80x
East Looe 4 412.37x
Awre 3 352.94x
Cricklade St Sampson 3 344.83x
Truro St Mary 3 150.00x
Westbury On Severn 3 182.93x
Avening 2 136.99x
Cheltenham 2 6.27x
Crewkerne 2 55.56x
Hereford St Owen 2 70.18x
Ross 2 58.14x
Southwark St John 2 31.06x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 2 67.11x
St Clement 2 80.32x
Tanshelf 2 119.76x
Taunton St Mary 2 32.10x
Tottenham 2 5.96x
Ashford 1 14.29x
Bickenhall 1 769.23x
Bromley 1 9.12x
Egloshayle 1 89.29x
English Bicknor 1 217.39x
Flaxley 1 107.53x
How Caple 1 1250.00x
Islington London 1 0.49x
Lambeth 1 0.54x
Lanhydrock 1 714.29x
Little Dean 1 169.49x
Melcombe Regis 1 17.45x
North Hamlet 1 270.27x
Pendlebury 1 18.94x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 13.93x
South Hayling 1 129.87x
St Breock 1 77.52x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.26x
Tempsford 1 256.41x
Upton Bishop 1 196.08x
Westbury On Trym 1 7.14x
Westminster St 1 12.87x
Weston Super Mare 1 11.68x
Woodchester 1 153.85x
Woolwich 1 3.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 13
Thomas 12
George 10
William 9
James 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Fredrick 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Luke 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Isaac 2
Levi 2
Tom 2
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
Charles 1
Evan 1
Garnet 1
Harry 1
Jaby 1
Jas.Oliver 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Morris 1
Oliver 1
Reuben 1
Samuel 1
Thom 1
Timothy 1
Wakeford 1

FAQ

Wilce surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilce surname in 1881?

In 1881, 216 people were recorded with the Wilce surname. That placed it at #12,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilce surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 686 in 2016. That gives Wilce a modern rank of #7,823.

What does the Wilce surname mean?

An English habitational surname referring to someone from Wilce, Northumberland.

What does the Wilce map show?

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