NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilders

An occupational surname likely derived from wilderness or indicating one who lived in a wild or uncultivated area.

In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Wilders surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 285, ranked #15,286, up from #15,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Erith, Northfleet and Crayford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield and Bexley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilders is 309 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 99.3%.

1881 census count

143

Ranked #15,955

Modern count

285

2016, ranked #15,286

Peak year

2008

309 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilders had 143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016, ranked #15,286.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 223 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wilders surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilders surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilders 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 143 #15,955
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 207 #14,803
1911 historical 223 #13,951
1997 modern 289 #13,859
1998 modern 298 #13,937
1999 modern 291 #14,234
2000 modern 294 #14,105
2001 modern 289 #14,069
2002 modern 307 #13,805
2003 modern 307 #13,614
2004 modern 301 #13,850
2005 modern 303 #13,757
2006 modern 308 #13,669
2007 modern 303 #13,965
2008 modern 309 #13,860
2009 modern 306 #14,218
2010 modern 304 #14,591
2011 modern 305 #14,439
2012 modern 287 #14,978
2013 modern 293 #14,998
2014 modern 292 #15,129
2015 modern 291 #15,078
2016 modern 285 #15,286

Geography

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Where Wilders' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Erith, Northfleet, Crayford, Burton-on-Trent and Barrow-on-Soar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield and Bexley. 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 Erith Kent
2 Northfleet Kent
3 Crayford Kent
4 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
5 Barrow-on-Soar Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 001 Wakefield
2 Bexley 008 Bexley
3 Wakefield 004 Wakefield
4 Bexley 019 Bexley
5 Wakefield 003 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilders

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilders

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Wilders surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wilders household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Wilders is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wilders is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wilders falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wilders is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wilders

The surname Wilders has its origins in medieval England, with its earliest remnants traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The name evolved from the Old English word 'wild,' meaning untamed or rustic, coupled with the suffix 'er' denoting an agent or person involved in a particular activity. Hence, Wilders could be interpreted as 'one who lives in wild places' or 'one who manages wild areas.'

Evidence of the surname Wilders appears in historical records from the late 12th century. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire in 1176, where a John le Wilder is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in common use by the Norman conquest of England.

A significant early example of the surname occurs in the Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Johannes Wyther is listed. Variations in spelling were common in medieval times due to inconsistent standards in written English. Another instance can be seen in the 15th century when a Thomas Wylders appeared in the court rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1445.

The Wilders family name also surfaced in various legal and ecclesiastical records. For instance, William Wilders, born around 1453, was noted in the records of Norfolk for his involvement in local governance and trade. His notable presence highlights the surname's association with influential figures in different regions of England.

Throughout history, several prominent individuals bore the Wilders surname. Sir Edward Wilders, born in 1602 and died in 1670, was a distinguished soldier and member of the English gentry. Another notable figure is Daniel Wilders (1712-1769), an English physician whose medical contributions were recognized during his era.

The surname continued to proliferate over the centuries, with variations in spelling such as Wylder and Wilder. These adaptations can often be found in parish records, wills, and other historical documents. The recurrence of the name in diverse regions of England attests to its widespread use and the mobility of families bearing the name.

In summary, Wilders is a surname of ancient English origin, with historical references dating back to the medieval period. Its etymological roots lie in the Old English language, and it has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. The name has consistently appeared in various legal and ecclesiastical records, solidifying its place in the annals of English onomatology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilders families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilders 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. Leicestershire leads with 45 Wilders' recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.10x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 45 29.10x
Derbyshire 16 7.33x
Staffordshire 15 3.19x
Lancashire 14 0.85x
Kent 13 2.73x
Cheshire 7 2.27x
Middlesex 6 0.43x
Warwickshire 6 1.71x
Essex 5 1.82x
Lincolnshire 4 1.79x
Nottinghamshire 4 2.13x
Yorkshire 3 0.22x
Surrey 2 0.29x
Devon 1 0.34x
Hertfordshire 1 1.04x
Somerset 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kegworth in Leicestershire leads with 15 Wilders' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1456.31x.

Place Total Index
Kegworth 15 1456.31x
Quorndon 13 1494.25x
Alfreton 11 165.91x
Burton Extra 10 370.37x
Birstall 8 3478.26x
Manchester 8 10.75x
Stockport 7 44.19x
Edgbaston 6 55.00x
Mile End Old Town 6 27.26x
Northfleet 6 143.20x
Erith 5 106.61x
Tipton 5 34.67x
Toxteth Park 5 8.92x
Nottingham St Mary 4 8.23x
Belper 3 70.92x
Croxton Keyrial 3 1153.85x
Market Deeping 3 517.24x
Mile End 3 600.00x
Barkestone 2 1428.57x
Battersea 2 3.90x
Belgrave 2 57.31x
Blackwell 2 186.92x
Crayford 2 96.15x
Grays Thurrock 2 78.13x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 3.56x
Enderby 1 125.00x
Haughton 1 41.49x
Heeley 1 23.81x
Langthorpe 1 625.00x
Leicester St Margaret 1 2.65x
Manthorpe Cum Little 1 58.82x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 4.47x
Stoke Lane 1 312.50x
Ware 1 36.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 8
Annie 4
Clara 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Edith 1
Elise 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Aked 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Ida 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lois 1
Maria 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 9
Joseph 7
John 6
Samuel 5
James 4
David 3
Henry 3
William 3
Wm. 3
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Gervase 2
Harry 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Albert 1
Chas. 1
Claude 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Guy 1
Hubert 1
Isreal 1
Leslie 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Thomas 1
Thos.Edwin 1

FAQ

Wilders surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilders surname in 1881?

In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Wilders surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilders surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016. That gives Wilders a modern rank of #15,286.

What does the Wilders surname mean?

An occupational surname likely derived from wilderness or indicating one who lived in a wild or uncultivated area.

What does the Wilders map show?

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