NameCensus.

UK surname

Wildish

A surname describing someone who lived in or near the wilderness.

In the 1881 census there were 272 people recorded with the Wildish surname, ranking it #10,409 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 494, ranked #10,067, up from #10,409 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Minster, Rochester and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, Swale and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wildish is 533 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.6%.

1881 census count

272

Ranked #10,409

Modern count

494

2016, ranked #10,067

Peak year

1997

533 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wildish had 272 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,409 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016, ranked #10,067.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 452 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wildish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wildish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wildish 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 188 #10,939
1861 historical 189 #12,570
1881 historical 272 #10,409
1891 historical 354 #9,741
1901 historical 395 #9,562
1911 historical 452 #8,476
1997 modern 533 #8,871
1998 modern 528 #9,211
1999 modern 532 #9,208
2000 modern 528 #9,251
2001 modern 518 #9,218
2002 modern 522 #9,349
2003 modern 506 #9,404
2004 modern 492 #9,616
2005 modern 475 #9,804
2006 modern 479 #9,788
2007 modern 479 #9,873
2008 modern 487 #9,840
2009 modern 497 #9,911
2010 modern 500 #10,059
2011 modern 496 #10,012
2012 modern 479 #10,176
2013 modern 497 #10,063
2014 modern 501 #10,063
2015 modern 500 #10,009
2016 modern 494 #10,067

Geography

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Where Wildishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Minster, Rochester, London parishes, Gateshead and Upchurch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, Swale and Rochdale. 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 Minster Kent
2 Rochester Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Upchurch Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 023 Gateshead
2 Swale 014 Swale
3 Swale 016 Swale
4 Rochdale 019 Rochdale
5 Swale 008 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wildish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wildish

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wildish, 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 Wildish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wildish 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Wildish is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Wildish is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wildish falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wildish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wildish

The surname Wildish is of English origin, appearing primarily in the southeastern counties of England. The name likely dates back to the medieval period and is thought to be derived from the Old English words "wild" and "isc," which together might suggest a meaning related to wildness or a person who dwelled in or near wild places such as forests or uncultivated lands. This etymology places the surname in a similar category to other nature-related surnames that were common in England during the medieval period.

The earliest records of the surname Wildish can be traced to the 14th century. Historical documents such as manorial rolls and tax records from the counties of Kent and Sussex feature early versions and spellings of the name. One of the earliest recorded instances appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Kent in 1334, where a John Wildysh is mentioned. Similarly, in Sussex, a record from 1379 lists a Richard Wyldysch, indicating the name's presence in these regions for several centuries.

Throughout history, the name Wildish appears in various official and church records. For example, the parish registers of Kent from the late 16th century mention a William Wildish, born around 1575, who was a prosperous yeoman. Another mention is of Thomas Wildish, a landholder documented in the 1620 visitation of Kent. The stability and prominence of the name during these periods highlight its affixed status within the local gentry.

In terms of place names, the surname Wildish itself does not directly correlate to any specific geographic location but is instead descriptive. Place names with similar roots can be found in areas known for their wildlands and forests. These geographic associations further substantiate the etymological roots of the name.

Several individuals bearing the surname Wildish have made notable contributions to various fields. Among them is James Wildish, a merchant from London in the late 17th century, who was known for his involvement in early transatlantic trade. Another significant figure is Samuel Wildish, born in 1799, who became a prominent figure in the development of local infrastructure in Kent. Anne Wildish, a renowned botanist in the early 19th century, contributed extensively to the study of English flora and was born in 1804. In the realm of academia, Edward Wildish, an Oxford scholar born in 1867, published several treatises on medieval English literature. Lastly, Harold Wildish, born in 1891, was recognized for his advancements in agricultural techniques during the early 20th century.

The surname Wildish has a rich history rooted in the English medieval period. Its associations with natural landscapes and notable individuals through the centuries highlight the enduring legacy of this distinctive name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wildish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wildish 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. Kent leads with 168 Wildishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.42x.

County Total Index
Kent 168 18.42x
Middlesex 46 1.72x
Surrey 16 1.23x
Durham 12 1.51x
Essex 12 2.27x
Lanarkshire 11 1.27x
Sussex 4 0.89x
Lancashire 2 0.06x
Cheshire 1 0.17x
Devon 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 3.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Faversham in Kent leads with 23 Wildishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 264.37x.

Place Total Index
Faversham 23 264.37x
Minster In Sheppey 13 86.04x
Gateshead 12 20.16x
Rochester St Margaret 11 114.35x
Enfield 10 57.01x
Gillingham 10 53.19x
Govan 10 4.68x
Upchurch 9 873.79x
Brentwood 8 248.45x
Maidstone 8 29.46x
Preston Next Faversham 8 373.83x
Smarden 8 769.23x
Tonbridge 8 24.32x
Sittingbourne 7 97.22x
Wouldham 7 603.45x
Biddenden 6 480.00x
Clerkenwell London 6 9.51x
Frittenden 6 705.88x
Mile End Old Town 6 14.22x
Tenterden 6 186.34x
Bermondsey 5 6.28x
Chatham 5 19.93x
Lambeth 5 2.15x
St Andrew Holborn 5 55.19x
Ashford 4 189.57x
Hastings St Mary 4 35.68x
Kensington London 4 2.69x
Shadwell London 4 53.48x
Teynham 4 243.90x
Barham 3 322.58x
Greenwich 3 7.05x
Ospringe 3 267.86x
Tottenham 3 7.05x
Bekesbourne 2 645.16x
Brabourne 2 294.12x
Camberwell 2 1.17x
Kingston On Thames 2 6.39x
Lewisham 2 4.11x
Murston 2 246.91x
Staplehurst 2 133.33x
Tillingham 2 215.05x
Battersea 1 1.02x
Burham 1 79.37x
Canterbury St Margaret 1 204.08x
Croydon 1 1.38x
East Farleigh 1 65.36x
Exeter Heavitree 1 24.10x
Folkestone 1 5.65x
Glasgow 1 0.65x
Headcorn 1 72.99x
Islington London 1 0.39x
Kirkdale 1 1.87x
Maldon St Peter 1 37.17x
Margate St John Baptist 1 5.99x
Meopham 1 88.50x
Milton In Milton 1 25.77x
Newington In Milton 1 105.26x
Royal Navy 1 3.67x
Runcorn 1 7.35x
Ryarsh 1 196.08x
South Benfleet 1 161.29x
St Marylebone London 1 0.70x
St Pancras London 1 0.46x
West Derby 1 1.08x
Westminster St James 1 3.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 6
Maria 5
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Catherine 4
Eliza 4
Florence 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Frances 3
Rebecca 3
Susanna 3
Edith 2
Effield 2
Elizth.Ann 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Mabel 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Carrie 1
Dinah 1
Elizt. 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Eunice 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kitty 1
Lilly 1
Lois 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 16
George 14
Henry 9
Walter 7
James 6
Charles 4
Isaac 4
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Ranger 2
Richd. 2
Robert 2
Able 1
Bertie 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Fred.W. 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Jas. 1
Jonah 1
Mercer 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Richd.B. 1
Saml.J. 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wildish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wildish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 272 people were recorded with the Wildish surname. That placed it at #10,409 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wildish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016. That gives Wildish a modern rank of #10,067.

What does the Wildish surname mean?

A surname describing someone who lived in or near the wilderness.

What does the Wildish map show?

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