NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilde

An English surname derived from the Old English "wilde," meaning untamed, undomesticated, or uncivilized.

In the 1881 census there were 4,372 people recorded with the Wilde surname, ranking it #1,024 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,670, ranked #869, up from #1,024 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Derbyshire, Tameside and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilde is 7,954 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.4%.

1881 census count

4,372

Ranked #1,024

Modern count

7,670

2016, ranked #869

Peak year

2010

7,954 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilde had 4,372 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,024 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,670 in 2016, ranked #869.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,824 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Wilde surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilde surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilde 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 2,454 #1,212
1861 historical 2,324 #1,270
1881 historical 4,372 #1,024
1891 historical 4,860 #961
1901 historical 6,087 #915
1911 historical 6,824 #756
1997 modern 7,622 #842
1998 modern 7,855 #854
1999 modern 7,935 #850
2000 modern 7,847 #856
2001 modern 7,641 #862
2002 modern 7,795 #862
2003 modern 7,670 #854
2004 modern 7,608 #863
2005 modern 7,426 #871
2006 modern 7,409 #877
2007 modern 7,466 #879
2008 modern 7,502 #879
2009 modern 7,697 #878
2010 modern 7,954 #864
2011 modern 7,745 #878
2012 modern 7,592 #874
2013 modern 7,732 #873
2014 modern 7,793 #869
2015 modern 7,735 #864
2016 modern 7,670 #869

Geography

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Where Wildes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, London parishes, Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Derbyshire, Tameside and Wigan. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Stockport Lancashire
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Derbyshire 011 North East Derbyshire
2 Tameside 028 Tameside
3 Tameside 017 Tameside
4 Tameside 018 Tameside
5 Wigan 038 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilde

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilde

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

Wilde is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Wilde

The surname Wilde originated in England during the Middle Ages. It derived from the Old English word "wilde", meaning wild, untamed, or uncultivated. The name likely referred to someone who lived in a remote or rural area, perhaps on the outskirts of a town or village.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Wilde date back to the 13th century. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 mention a Philip le Wilde from Oxfordshire. The name also appears in various medieval records and manuscripts, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, which list a John le Wilde.

In the 14th century, the surname Wilde began appearing in various spellings, including Wylde, Wilde, and Wyld. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common during that time period.

One of the earliest prominent individuals with the surname Wilde was Sir John Wilde (c. 1590-1669), an English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the English Civil War.

Another notable figure was Jonathan Wilde (c. 1682-1725), a notorious English criminal and thieftaker who controlled a vast network of pickpockets and thieves in London. He was eventually hanged for his crimes.

In the 19th century, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) became one of the most famous individuals to bear the surname. The Irish poet, playwright, and novelist is renowned for his wit, flamboyant style, and works such as "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Importance of Being Earnest".

Other notable individuals with the surname Wilde include:

1. Ralph Waldo Wilde (1889-1967), an American mathematician known for his contributions to the field of topology. 2. Cornel Wilde (1912-1989), an American actor, director, and producer best known for his roles in films like "The Greatest Show on Earth" and "The Naked Prey". 3. Marty Wilde (born 1939), an English singer-songwriter and father of pop stars Kim Wilde and Ricky Wilde. 4. Amy Wilde (born 1972), an American golfer who won the U.S. Women's Open in 2014. 5. Max Wilde (born 1990), a German professional soccer player who currently plays as a defender for VfL Bochum.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilde families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilde 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 1,464 Wildes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.90x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,464 2.90x
Yorkshire 572 1.36x
Cheshire 498 5.30x
Shropshire 247 6.72x
Staffordshire 178 1.24x
Middlesex 169 0.40x
Warwickshire 124 1.16x
Derbyshire 116 1.74x
Worcestershire 101 1.82x
Norfolk 98 1.50x
Glamorgan 85 1.15x
Surrey 80 0.39x
Nottinghamshire 77 1.34x
Durham 67 0.53x
Leicestershire 61 1.29x
Kent 39 0.27x
Radnorshire 38 11.07x
Northumberland 35 0.55x
Hampshire 33 0.38x
Denbighshire 28 1.74x
Montgomeryshire 27 2.77x
Sussex 25 0.35x
Somerset 21 0.31x
Berkshire 17 0.53x
Devon 16 0.18x
Monmouthshire 15 0.49x
Herefordshire 13 0.75x
Lincolnshire 13 0.19x
Suffolk 13 0.25x
Flintshire 10 0.87x
Wiltshire 10 0.27x
Pembrokeshire 9 0.67x
Gloucestershire 8 0.10x
Lanarkshire 8 0.06x
Essex 6 0.07x
Hertfordshire 6 0.20x
Westmorland 6 0.64x
Cumberland 5 0.14x
Anglesey 4 0.53x
Oxfordshire 3 0.11x
Royal Navy 3 0.59x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.12x
Midlothian 2 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.03x
Berwickshire 1 0.19x
Brecknockshire 1 0.12x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.16x
Northamptonshire 1 0.03x
Peeblesshire 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 252 Wildes recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.85x.

Place Total Index
Ashton Under Lyne 252 22.85x
Dukinfield 150 34.58x
Hyde 128 46.20x
Haughton 98 133.12x
Oldham 97 5.95x
Birmingham 69 1.93x
Sowerby In Halifax 69 50.07x
Denton 68 60.80x
Manchester 65 2.86x
Hulme 56 5.31x
Chadderton 45 18.24x
Chorlton On Medlock 39 4.86x
Broseley 37 56.66x
Ecclesall Bierlow 37 4.32x
Ardwick 36 7.91x
Sheffield 35 2.61x
West Derby 35 2.37x
Aston 34 1.15x
Everton 32 1.99x
West Bromwich 32 3.89x
Sedgley 31 5.81x
Newton In Ashton Under 30 32.38x
Kearsley 28 26.37x
Newton 28 7.20x
Salford 27 1.82x
Stayley 27 25.16x
Widnes 27 7.42x
Castleton 26 5.16x
Macclesfield 26 6.23x
Liverpool 25 0.82x
Bradford 24 2.35x
Bury 24 4.16x
Newcastle On Tyne St 24 7.32x
Glossop Dale 23 7.38x
Reddish 23 33.08x
Heigham 22 6.27x
Lambeth 22 0.59x
Birkenhead 21 2.81x
Ecclesfield 21 6.80x
Islington London 21 0.51x
Nether Hallam 21 3.68x
Selston 21 32.80x
Wellington 21 10.17x
Wolverhampton 21 1.90x
Brightside Bierlow 20 2.42x
Broughton In Salford 20 4.33x
Himbleton 20 299.85x
Nottingham St Mary 20 1.35x
Kings Norton 19 3.82x
Margam 19 23.01x
Melverley 19 693.43x
Cheadle 18 10.04x
Chesterfield 18 7.21x
Over Darwen 18 4.47x
St Marylebone London 18 0.79x
Hathern 17 89.01x
Holme On Spalding Moor 17 61.55x
Wuerdle Wardle 17 11.10x
Blackley 16 18.09x
Loughborough 16 7.48x
Shoreditch London 16 0.87x
Wrexham Regis 16 13.41x
Camberwell 15 0.55x
Gateshead 15 1.58x
Gorton 15 3.16x
Leeds 15 0.63x
Paddington London 15 0.96x
Aston 14 144.63x
Battersea 14 0.89x
Cefnllys 14 141.56x
Kinnerley 14 80.09x
Linthwaite 14 15.80x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 0.92x
Toxteth Park 14 0.82x
Whitwood 14 23.38x
Cheetham 13 3.45x
Deptford St Paul 13 1.16x
Madeley 13 9.65x
Stockport 13 2.69x
Warrington 12 2.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 329
Elizabeth 180
Sarah 177
Ann 107
Hannah 83
Jane 82
Alice 79
Annie 68
Emma 65
Eliza 62
Margaret 54
Ellen 49
Harriet 43
Martha 41
Emily 34
Maria 32
Edith 28
Florence 28
Ada 26
Catherine 24
Clara 22
Anne 20
Charlotte 20
Lucy 20
Frances 19
Fanny 18
Caroline 14
Louisa 14
Amelia 13
Elizth. 13
Esther 13
Rachel 12
Betty 11
Kate 11
Amy 10
Harriett 10
Agnes 9
Bertha 9
Jessie 9
Susan 9
Selina 8
Lizzie 7
Lydia 7
Mabel 7
Minnie 7
Ruth 7
Betsy 6
Gertrude 6
Grace 6
Lily 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 253
William 225
James 160
Thomas 147
George 136
Joseph 112
Edward 63
Henry 62
Samuel 60
Charles 58
Robert 51
Arthur 48
Richard 34
Frederick 33
Harry 30
Albert 29
Alfred 27
Walter 25
Edwin 21
Herbert 20
David 19
Francis 18
Wm. 17
Ernest 16
Frank 13
Percy 11
Fred 10
Thos. 10
Tom 10
Matthew 9
Edmund 8
Ralph 8
Frederic 7
Leonard 7
Benjamin 6
Peter 6
Fredk. 5
Isaac 5
Jenkin 5
Sam 5
Sidney 5
Willie 5
Wright 5
Abraham 4
Alexander 4
Enoch 4
Evan 4
Harold 4
Joshua 4
Lewis 4

FAQ

Wilde surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilde surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,372 people were recorded with the Wilde surname. That placed it at #1,024 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilde surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,670 in 2016. That gives Wilde a modern rank of #869.

What does the Wilde surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English "wilde," meaning untamed, undomesticated, or uncivilized.

What does the Wilde map show?

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