NameCensus.

UK surname

Wildy

A surname referring to someone or something wild, unrestrained, or untamed.

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Wildy surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 153, ranked #23,408, down from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Plymouth, Pembrokeshire and Stroud.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wildy is 176 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.6%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

153

2016, ranked #23,408

Peak year

2000

176 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wildy had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016, ranked #23,408.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 145 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wildy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wildy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wildy 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 31 #27,734
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 120 #20,545
1911 historical 145 #18,255
1997 modern 165 #19,861
1998 modern 175 #19,658
1999 modern 175 #19,798
2000 modern 176 #19,698
2001 modern 175 #19,484
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 165 #20,530
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 161 #20,972
2007 modern 166 #20,811
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 156 #22,351
2010 modern 170 #21,560
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 146 #23,681
2013 modern 158 #22,817
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 153 #23,408

Geography

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Where Wildys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Ealing, Chiswick, Lambeth and Wimpole. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Plymouth, Pembrokeshire, Stroud, Bromley and Hounslow. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Wimpole Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Plymouth 020 Plymouth
2 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire
3 Stroud 003 Stroud
4 Bromley 022 Bromley
5 Hounslow 003 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wildy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wildy

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wildy 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

Wildy 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

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

Meaning and origin of Wildy

The surname Wildy traces its origins to England during the medieval period. Predominantly found in the regions of Yorkshire and Lancashire, Wildy is derived from the Old English elements "wild," meaning wild or untamed, and the suffix "ey," which is a diminutive form denoting a place or island. Therefore, the name can be interpreted as "wild island" or "wild place."

Medieval records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, do not mention the surname Wildy directly, suggesting it may have evolved slightly later. However, local parish records from the 14th and 15th centuries often include variations such as Wyldy, Wyldey, and Wyldie. These early forms indicate the surname's connection to specific geographic features or characteristics of the inhabitants' environment.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Wildy appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Richard Wyldy is documented. In the late 1500s, John Wildy of Lancashire is noted in the ecclesiastical court records, highlighting the name's steady presence in Northern England.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Wildy. Thomas Wildy, born in 1675 in York, was a prominent landowner whose estate records provide insight into the family's holdings and social standing during the 17th century. Samuel Wildy, a merchant born in 1742, played a significant role in the trade activities of Liverpool, further demonstrating the surname's association with business and commerce.

The 19th century saw the appearance of William Wildy, a known abolitionist born in 1809, who actively participated in movements advocating for the end of slavery. Another notable figure, Annabella Wildy, born in 1863, was a respected educator and author, contributing significantly to the literature and learning of her time.

In more recent historical contexts, Frederick Wildy, born in 1887, served valiantly in World War I and was commemorated for his bravery and service. His military records provide crucial information about the involvement of individuals with this surname in significant global events.

These historical references and notable individuals emphasize the enduring nature and varied contributions of those bearing the surname Wildy, from medieval times to the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wildy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wildy 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. Middlesex leads with 39 Wildys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.57x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 39 3.57x
Surrey 39 7.33x
Lincolnshire 10 5.73x
Derbyshire 7 4.09x
Denbighshire 4 9.69x
Nottinghamshire 4 2.72x
Kent 3 0.81x
Hampshire 2 0.89x
Warwickshire 2 0.73x
Leicestershire 1 0.83x
Staffordshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 13 Wildys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.79x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 13 14.79x
Lambeth 12 12.60x
Hampstead London 8 47.03x
Hornsey 8 57.93x
St Benedict Lincoln 8 3478.26x
Battersea 7 17.42x
Ilkeston 7 146.14x
Fulham London 5 31.57x
Newington 5 12.39x
Basford 4 58.91x
Llangollen Trevor 4 1538.46x
Mitcham 4 119.05x
Southwark St Saviour 4 71.30x
Croydon 3 10.16x
Lewisham 3 15.10x
Aston 2 2.64x
St Martin In Fields 2 30.58x
St Swithin Lincoln 2 72.73x
Widley 2 500.00x
Beddington 1 48.54x
Bilston 1 13.99x
Epsom 1 38.61x
Furnivals Inn London 1 1666.67x
Hackney London 1 1.63x
Leatherhead 1 75.19x
Shoreditch London 1 2.11x
Sutton 1 25.97x
Woodhouse 1 208.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 8
Alfred 6
John 6
Arthur 4
Charles 4
George 4
James 4
David 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Frederick 2
Agustus 1
Augustus 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Emma 1
Ernist 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Robert 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Wildy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wildy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Wildy surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wildy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016. That gives Wildy a modern rank of #23,408.

What does the Wildy surname mean?

A surname referring to someone or something wild, unrestrained, or untamed.

What does the Wildy map show?

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