NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilcock

An English surname likely derived from a personal name or place name incorporating the Old English elements "wil" meaning trickery or mischief and "cocc" referring to a little hill.

In the 1881 census there were 4,272 people recorded with the Wilcock surname, ranking it #1,051 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,783, ranked #1,420, down from #1,051 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Rochdale and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Bolton and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilcock is 5,498 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.0%.

1881 census count

4,272

Ranked #1,051

Modern count

4,783

2016, ranked #1,420

Peak year

1911

5,498 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilcock had 4,272 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,051 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,783 in 2016, ranked #1,420.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,498 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Wilcock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilcock surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilcock 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 2,777 #1,052
1861 historical 2,962 #974
1881 historical 4,272 #1,051
1891 historical 4,490 #1,050
1901 historical 5,107 #1,099
1911 historical 5,498 #948
1997 modern 4,961 #1,325
1998 modern 5,065 #1,345
1999 modern 5,118 #1,337
2000 modern 5,089 #1,337
2001 modern 4,972 #1,337
2002 modern 5,024 #1,348
2003 modern 4,830 #1,373
2004 modern 4,820 #1,370
2005 modern 4,737 #1,376
2006 modern 4,736 #1,383
2007 modern 4,767 #1,385
2008 modern 4,819 #1,381
2009 modern 4,928 #1,382
2010 modern 4,956 #1,404
2011 modern 4,862 #1,413
2012 modern 4,747 #1,416
2013 modern 4,857 #1,407
2014 modern 4,872 #1,412
2015 modern 4,813 #1,414
2016 modern 4,783 #1,420

Geography

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Where Wilcocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Rochdale, Halifax, Thornhill and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Bolton, Wigan, Warrington and Craven. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Thornhill Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 017 Flintshire
2 Bolton 024 Bolton
3 Wigan 031 Wigan
4 Warrington 013 Warrington
5 Craven 001 Craven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilcock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilcock

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wilcock, 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 Wilcock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wilcock 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wilcock 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

Wilcock 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

Wilcock 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 Wilcock 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 Wilcock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wilcock

The surname Wilcock has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. Specifically, it is thought to emerge during the 12th and 13th centuries. The name is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The surname is derived from the combination of the personal name Wil or Will, which is a diminutive form of William, and the diminutive suffix cock. The suffix cock was often used in medieval England to denote a young lad or son. Therefore, Wilcock essentially means "son of little Will" or "young William."

Historical references to the name Wilcock can be found in various records and manuscripts. One of the earliest recorded instances appears in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246, where a Roger Wilcoc is mentioned. This indicates the surname was already in use by the 13th century.

In terms of earlier spellings, variations such as Wilcoc, Wilcoke, and Wilcox have been noted in historical documents. In the Poll Tax records for Yorkshire, dated 1379, a reference to one Richard Wilcock can be found, highlighting the evolving spellings and continued use of the name.

Several notable people through history bore the surname Wilcock. For instance, John Wilcock, born in 1520, was notable in the town of Ripon, Yorkshire for his role in local governance. Another significant figure was Edward Wilcock, a merchant in the early 17th century, born in 1590 and involved in the wool trade in Lancashire.

In the literary world, there was Justin Wilcock, an English poet in the late 18th century, born in 1765. His works contributed to the romantic literary movement of his time. Moving to more modern history, Wilfred Wilcock, born in 1889, was an influential engineer during the early 20th century who played a role in the development of British engineering practices.

In the realm of science, Dr. Roger Wilcock, born in 1935, made significant contributions to the field of chemistry, particularly in the development of pharmaceutical compounds. His work gained recognition in the scientific community throughout his career.

The surname Wilcock illustrates a rich history deeply rooted in England and showcases the transformations the name has undergone through the centuries, from its origins to its notable bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilcock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilcock 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. Lancashire leads with 1,994 Wilcocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.04x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,994 4.04x
Yorkshire 1,625 3.95x
Flintshire 115 10.30x
Cheshire 83 0.91x
Middlesex 64 0.15x
Lincolnshire 45 0.68x
Surrey 39 0.19x
Cornwall 35 0.74x
Kent 25 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 25 0.45x
Durham 24 0.19x
Derbyshire 23 0.35x
Northumberland 18 0.29x
Staffordshire 18 0.13x
Worcestershire 14 0.26x
Cumberland 12 0.34x
Pembrokeshire 11 0.83x
Sussex 11 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.40x
Westmorland 10 1.10x
Devon 8 0.09x
Midlothian 8 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 6 0.54x
Denbighshire 5 0.32x
Essex 5 0.06x
Shropshire 5 0.14x
Gloucestershire 4 0.05x
Angus 3 0.08x
Glamorgan 3 0.04x
Isle of Man 3 0.39x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.08x
Dorset 2 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.01x
Hertfordshire 1 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.02x
Suffolk 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 241 Wilcocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.27x.

Place Total Index
Preston 241 18.27x
Thornhill 115 95.73x
Pudsey 95 43.17x
Sowerby In Halifax 84 62.40x
Warrington 73 12.49x
Leeds 66 2.84x
Erringden 58 218.13x
Idle 57 29.86x
Westleigh 54 48.24x
Bradford 50 5.02x
Wadsworth 49 73.12x
Horton In Bradford 48 7.47x
Bentham 47 149.82x
Blackburn 47 3.58x
Everton 46 2.93x
Halifax 45 7.45x
Great Bolton 38 5.82x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 38 19.87x
Oldham 36 2.26x
Walton Le Dale 36 27.18x
Salford 34 2.34x
Barton Upon Irwell 33 8.89x
Lancaster 33 11.25x
Mold 33 32.58x
Parr 33 18.71x
West Derby 32 2.22x
Euxton 31 189.60x
Manchester 31 1.40x
Bury 30 5.33x
Castleton 30 6.09x
Pontefract 30 33.83x
Sheffield 29 2.21x
Warley 28 23.53x
Eccleston In Prescot 27 10.91x
Hawarden 27 30.78x
Liverpool 27 0.90x
Elland Cum Greetland 26 14.02x
Worsley 26 8.56x
Abram 25 66.09x
Barnoldswick 25 43.50x
Golborne 25 38.91x
Hope 25 45.00x
Keighley 25 5.70x
Pendleton In Salford 25 4.26x
Ashton Under Lyne 24 2.23x
Newchurch 24 5.95x
Toxteth Park 24 1.44x
Brightside Bierlow 23 2.85x
Wigan 23 3.34x
Ashton In Makerfield 22 15.67x
Barnsley 21 4.95x
Billinge Higher End 21 105.16x
Hulme 21 2.04x
Bramley In Bramley 20 12.69x
Spotland 20 3.65x
Morley 19 8.88x
Radcliffe 19 8.00x
Barrow In Furness 18 2.68x
Midgley 18 41.03x
Newton 18 4.74x
Pemberton 18 9.16x
St Pancras London 18 0.54x
Chorley 17 6.15x
Cleckheaton 17 11.21x
Dalton In Furness 17 8.93x
Halliwell 17 9.48x
Manningham 17 3.35x
Oswaldtwistle 17 9.76x
Clayton 16 15.88x
Dewsbury 16 3.79x
Haslingden 16 7.84x
Wuerdle Wardle 16 10.69x
Astley 15 39.44x
Bedford 15 14.55x
Haydock 15 17.66x
North Meols 15 3.11x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 15 10.20x
Ovenden 15 8.19x
Pennington In Leigh 15 15.86x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 15 14.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 373
Elizabeth 190
Sarah 174
Ann 106
Jane 103
Margaret 97
Alice 86
Ellen 69
Hannah 62
Annie 58
Martha 54
Emma 49
Eliza 45
Emily 33
Ada 25
Edith 23
Clara 21
Florence 21
Isabella 21
Agnes 20
Grace 19
Anne 17
Esther 17
Frances 17
Louisa 16
Harriet 14
Betsy 13
Betty 13
Charlotte 13
Maria 13
Lucy 12
Susannah 11
Catherine 10
Eleanor 10
Fanny 10
Amelia 9
Caroline 9
Elizth. 9
Rebecca 9
Susan 9
Kate 8
Lydia 8
Rachel 8
Gertrude 7
Lily 7
Nancy 7
Ruth 7
Amy 6
Matilda 6
Rose 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 306
William 241
Thomas 179
James 147
George 103
Joseph 94
Henry 77
Richard 69
Edward 59
Charles 50
Robert 41
Samuel 38
Arthur 31
David 27
Harry 26
Albert 24
Walter 23
Alfred 21
Peter 21
Frederick 20
Fred 19
Tom 15
Frank 14
Herbert 14
Benjamin 13
Christopher 13
Edwin 13
Stephen 11
Wm. 11
Abraham 8
Isaac 8
Thos. 8
Ernest 7
Mark 7
Francis 6
Willie 6
Jas. 5
Jonathan 5
Joshua 5
Levi 5
Enoch 4
Fredk. 4
Fredrick 4
Harold 4
Michael 4
Ralph 4
Sam 4
Amos 3
Jno. 3
Percy 3

FAQ

Wilcock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilcock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,272 people were recorded with the Wilcock surname. That placed it at #1,051 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilcock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,783 in 2016. That gives Wilcock a modern rank of #1,420.

What does the Wilcock surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from a personal name or place name incorporating the Old English elements "wil" meaning trickery or mischief and "cocc" referring to a little hill.

What does the Wilcock map show?

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