NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilk

A Polish and Jewish surname derived from the Slavic word for "wolf," likely referring to a person's characteristics or occupation.

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Wilk surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 626, ranked #8,424, up from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wrexham, Hyndburn and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilk is 626 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 757.5%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

626

2016, ranked #8,424

Peak year

2016

626 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilk had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 626 in 2016, ranked #8,424.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 97 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Wilk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilk surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wilk 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 64 #27,010
1911 historical 44 #28,454
1997 modern 144 #21,660
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 146 #22,302
2003 modern 152 #21,486
2004 modern 173 #19,937
2005 modern 214 #17,378
2006 modern 281 #14,500
2007 modern 348 #12,637
2008 modern 376 #12,039
2009 modern 402 #11,682
2010 modern 448 #10,947
2011 modern 459 #10,607
2012 modern 556 #9,092
2013 modern 583 #8,920
2014 modern 600 #8,807
2015 modern 612 #8,606
2016 modern 626 #8,424

Geography

Back to top

Where Wilks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wrexham, Hyndburn, Haringey, Slough and Melton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wrexham 006 Wrexham
2 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
3 Haringey 024 Haringey
4 Slough 002 Slough
5 Melton 004 Melton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wilk

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wilk

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Wilk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Wilk household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Wilk is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wilk is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wilk falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wilk 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Wilk

The surname WILK originates from Poland, where it first appeared in the early 13th century. It is derived from the Polish word "wilk," meaning "wolf." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a wooded area inhabited by wolves or someone with wolf-like characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the WILK surname can be found in the "Liber Beneficiorum" (Book of Benefices) from the Archdiocese of Gniezno, dated around 1275. This medieval document mentions a cleric named "Wilk de Dobramila" from the village of Dobramila.

In the 14th century, the surname WILK appeared in various historical records across different regions of Poland. For instance, in 1388, a landowner named "Janek Wilk" was mentioned in a document from the town of Kraków.

The WILK surname has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One example is Stanisław WILK (1516-1598), a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Livonian War against Russia. Another is Józef WILK (1800-1854), a Polish poet and translator known for his translations of works by Lord Byron and Adam Mickiewicz.

In the 16th century, the variant spelling "WILCZ" emerged, likely due to the influence of the Polish word "wilczy," meaning "of the wolf." This spelling can be found in records from the town of Sandomierz, where a merchant named "Maciej Wilcz" is mentioned in 1543.

The WILK surname has also been connected to various place names in Poland, such as the village of Wilków near Radom, and the town of Wilkowice in the Silesian region, both of which may have derived their names from the presence of wolves or from individuals bearing the WILK surname.

Other notable individuals with the WILK surname include Andrzej WILK (1870-1929), a Polish painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and portraits, and Eugeniusz WILK (1916-1997), a Polish engineer and inventor who developed several innovative technologies for the mining industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wilk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilk 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 37 Wilks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 37 5.27x
Staffordshire 14 5.91x
Yorkshire 10 1.44x
Surrey 4 1.17x
Wiltshire 4 6.44x
Derbyshire 1 0.91x
Norfolk 1 0.93x
Warwickshire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 14 Wilks recorded in 1881 and an index of 158.91x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 14 158.91x
Spitalfields London 9 170.45x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 123.46x
Bromley London 8 51.78x
Islington London 6 8.81x
Finchley 5 185.87x
Hackney London 4 10.16x
Rodbourne Cheney 4 833.33x
Camberwell 2 4.46x
Birmingham 1 1.69x
Bridewell Precinct 1 1666.67x
Hampstead London 1 9.14x
Holy Trinity 1 5.97x
Kingston On Thames 1 12.17x
Melton Parva 1 1111.11x
Mickleover 1 294.12x
Pudsey 1 26.88x
Richmond 1 20.83x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 104.17x
St Giles In Fields 1 41.32x
St Pancras London 1 1.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Alice 3
Emma 3
Ann 2
A. 1
Augustar 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mary 1
Nancy 1
Naomi 1
Polly 1
Rachael 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
John 5
Joseph 4
Charles 2
Edwin 2
Jacob 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Benj. 1
Francis 1
George 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Martin 1
Samuel 1
Theophulus 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wilk households.

FAQ

Wilk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Wilk surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 626 in 2016. That gives Wilk a modern rank of #8,424.

What does the Wilk surname mean?

A Polish and Jewish surname derived from the Slavic word for "wolf," likely referring to a person's characteristics or occupation.

What does the Wilk map show?

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