NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilford

Derived from a place name meaning "willow ford," referring to a ford where willow trees grow.

In the 1881 census there were 1,206 people recorded with the Wilford surname, ranking it #3,343 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,355, ranked #4,448, down from #3,343 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Leicester St Mary and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Harborough and Daventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilford is 1,719 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.4%.

1881 census count

1,206

Ranked #3,343

Modern count

1,355

2016, ranked #4,448

Peak year

1911

1,719 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilford had 1,206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,343 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,355 in 2016, ranked #4,448.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,719 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wilford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilford 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 854 #3,185
1861 historical 932 #2,977
1881 historical 1,206 #3,343
1891 historical 1,393 #3,124
1901 historical 1,678 #3,077
1911 historical 1,719 #2,849
1997 modern 1,464 #3,995
1998 modern 1,495 #4,066
1999 modern 1,520 #4,036
2000 modern 1,471 #4,129
2001 modern 1,457 #4,084
2002 modern 1,502 #4,071
2003 modern 1,453 #4,104
2004 modern 1,458 #4,093
2005 modern 1,431 #4,123
2006 modern 1,405 #4,182
2007 modern 1,424 #4,175
2008 modern 1,446 #4,149
2009 modern 1,460 #4,200
2010 modern 1,489 #4,207
2011 modern 1,444 #4,262
2012 modern 1,400 #4,303
2013 modern 1,407 #4,351
2014 modern 1,402 #4,391
2015 modern 1,361 #4,449
2016 modern 1,355 #4,448

Geography

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Where Wilfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Leicester St Mary, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Clipston and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Harborough, Daventry, Melton and Barnsley. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Leicester St Mary Leicestershire
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Clipston Leicestershire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
2 Harborough 006 Harborough
3 Daventry 001 Daventry
4 Melton 004 Melton
5 Barnsley 005 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilford

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

Wilford 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

Wilford falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wilford 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 Wilford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wilford

The surname Wilford is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name Wilford, which can be found in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The name is thought to be composed of the Old English elements "wil" meaning "willow" and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Wilford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth undertaken by order of William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book references a place called "Willeford" in Nottinghamshire.

In the 13th century, records show a Walter de Wilford in Derbyshire and a John de Wylford in Nottinghamshire. These early spellings, "Wylford" and "Wileford," highlight the evolution of the name from its Old English roots.

A notable early bearer of the surname was Sir Thomas Wilford (c. 1455 - 1529), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1491. He played a significant role in the construction of the famous Baynard's Castle in London.

Another prominent figure was Sir Ralph Wilford (c. 1614 - 1679), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for East Retford in Nottinghamshire during the 17th century.

In the literary realm, Francis Wilford (1761 - 1822) was an English Orientalist and scholar of Sanskrit and ancient Indian history. He made significant contributions to the study of Hindu mythology and culture.

The surname Wilford has also been associated with various place names, such as Wilford Village in Nottinghamshire and Wilford Hill in Nottingham. These locations may have influenced the spread and distribution of the surname over time.

While the surname Wilford is not among the most common surnames in English-speaking countries, it has a rich historical legacy spanning several centuries and continues to be borne by individuals across various regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilford 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 255 Wilfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.53x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 255 19.53x
Northamptonshire 205 18.51x
Yorkshire 185 1.59x
Nottinghamshire 123 7.75x
Middlesex 73 0.62x
Lancashire 52 0.37x
Lincolnshire 48 2.55x
Warwickshire 39 1.31x
Durham 34 0.97x
Buckinghamshire 31 4.36x
Derbyshire 27 1.46x
Surrey 22 0.38x
Hampshire 18 0.75x
Norfolk 16 0.88x
Sussex 14 0.71x
Rutland 13 15.04x
Kent 11 0.27x
Wiltshire 6 0.58x
Carmarthenshire 5 1.01x
Northumberland 5 0.29x
Staffordshire 5 0.13x
Gloucestershire 4 0.17x
Worcestershire 3 0.20x
Berkshire 2 0.23x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Glamorgan 2 0.10x
Somerset 2 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.43x
Oxfordshire 1 0.14x
Shropshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 56 Wilfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.64x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 56 13.64x
Great Bowden 43 362.26x
Clipston 38 1352.31x
Naseby 35 1422.76x
Leicester St Mary 32 30.34x
Leicester St Margaret 30 9.42x
Ince In Makerfield 27 41.53x
Headingley Cum Burley 24 31.96x
Brompton In 23 440.61x
Leicester All Sts 22 85.80x
Northampton Priory St 19 28.59x
Sibbertoft 19 1610.17x
Scalford 16 577.62x
Birmingham 14 1.41x
Northampton St Sepulchre 14 24.85x
Kensington London 12 1.83x
Countesthorpe 11 247.19x
Hackney London 11 1.67x
Boston 10 17.51x
Gomersal 10 18.36x
Monkwearmouth Shore 10 14.63x
Pytchley 10 440.53x
Stony Stratford West 10 204.08x
Barrow Upon Soar 9 83.49x
Bingham 9 133.33x
Draughton 9 1363.64x
Finedon 9 92.78x
Hunslet 9 4.95x
Skirbeck 9 85.31x
South Normanton 9 69.50x
Thornby 9 1046.51x
Aston 8 0.98x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.56x
Byers Green 8 80.97x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 3.60x
Hemsworth 8 119.40x
Hose 8 449.44x
Leicester St Nicholas 8 108.25x
Roystone 8 175.44x
South Kyme 8 373.83x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 8 14.76x
Wymering 8 201.51x
Chilton 7 64.04x
Cropwell Bishop 7 273.44x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 2.95x
Greasley 7 19.55x
Great Yarmouth 7 4.67x
Heanor 7 25.39x
Lambeth 7 0.68x
Mansfield 7 12.75x
Monk Bretton 7 59.27x
Nether Broughton 7 382.51x
Seaton 7 542.64x
Wigan 7 3.59x
Worminghall 7 573.77x
Arthingworth 6 800.00x
Bradford On Avon 6 18.00x
Brighton 6 1.50x
Brinsworth 6 110.91x
Coventry St Michael 6 6.29x
Newport Pagnell 6 40.32x
Olney 6 60.98x
St Pancras London 6 0.63x
Tugby 6 431.65x
Waltham On The Wolds 6 250.00x
Welney 6 144.93x
Carmarthen St Peter 5 11.79x
Chesterfield 5 7.24x
Little Bowden 5 129.20x
Melton Mowbray 5 21.30x
Northallerton 5 33.58x
Prudhoe Castle 5 146.63x
Pudsey 5 8.02x
Ratcliffe Upon Trent 5 125.63x
Raunds 5 44.33x
Toynton All Sts 5 367.65x
Wartnaby 5 757.58x
Wellingborough 5 8.98x
Worksop 5 10.62x
York St Lawrence 5 41.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 70
John 67
Thomas 47
George 39
James 32
Charles 27
Joseph 26
Arthur 19
Robert 16
Richard 13
Edward 12
Walter 12
Samuel 11
Harry 10
Frank 8
Frederick 8
Henry 8
Albert 7
Herbert 7
Alfred 6
Benjamin 6
Ernest 6
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Fred 5
Anthony 4
Bartholomew 4
Edmund 4
Abijah 3
Thos. 3
Andrew 2
Benjiman 2
Edmond 2
Fredk. 2
Haddon 2
Henery 2
Horace 2
Jeremiah 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Luke 2
Athison 1
Bengamin 1
David 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Hardy 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Wilford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,206 people were recorded with the Wilford surname. That placed it at #3,343 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,355 in 2016. That gives Wilford a modern rank of #4,448.

What does the Wilford surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "willow ford," referring to a ford where willow trees grow.

What does the Wilford map show?

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