NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilkie

Derived from a diminutive of Will, a nickname for William, or from a place name meaning "willow tree."

In the 1881 census there were 4,293 people recorded with the Wilkie surname, ranking it #1,043 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,379, ranked #1,247, down from #1,043 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newburgh, Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond and Largs Central and Cumbrae.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilkie is 5,429 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.3%.

1881 census count

4,293

Ranked #1,043

Modern count

5,379

2016, ranked #1,247

Peak year

2010

5,429 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilkie had 4,293 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,043 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,379 in 2016, ranked #1,247.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,085 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Wilkie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilkie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilkie 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 2,888 #1,006
1861 historical 3,112 #929
1881 historical 4,293 #1,043
1891 historical 4,533 #1,036
1901 historical 5,085 #1,106
1911 historical 1,323 #3,607
1997 modern 5,051 #1,296
1998 modern 5,187 #1,309
1999 modern 5,145 #1,331
2000 modern 5,107 #1,330
2001 modern 4,990 #1,334
2002 modern 5,125 #1,322
2003 modern 4,999 #1,320
2004 modern 4,979 #1,321
2005 modern 4,985 #1,311
2006 modern 5,038 #1,299
2007 modern 5,123 #1,288
2008 modern 5,156 #1,288
2009 modern 5,282 #1,288
2010 modern 5,429 #1,284
2011 modern 5,321 #1,289
2012 modern 5,202 #1,294
2013 modern 5,284 #1,294
2014 modern 5,385 #1,278
2015 modern 5,385 #1,256
2016 modern 5,379 #1,247

Geography

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Where Wilkies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newburgh, Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond, Largs Central and Cumbrae, Kirkwood and Bargeddie and Kirriemuir. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newburgh Fife
2 Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond Perth and Kinross
3 Largs Central and Cumbrae North Ayrshire
4 Kirkwood and Bargeddie North Lanarkshire
5 Kirriemuir Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilkie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilkie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Wilkie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Wilkie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wilkie 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

Wilkie is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wilkie falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wilkie

The surname WILKIE has its origins in Scotland, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English personal name Wilcuma, which means "a desired guest" or "welcome". This name was later Anglicized as Wilkin or Wilkie.

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The entry "Willelmus Wylci de Botheuill" refers to William Wilkie from Bothwell.

In the 16th century, the WILKIE surname was prevalent in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. The town of Wilkieston in West Lothian may have been named after a family of WILKIEs who resided there.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Wilkie (c. 1580-1646), a Scottish landowner and member of the Parliament of Scotland. He is known for his involvement in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Another prominent figure was William Wilkie (1721-1772), a Scottish writer and philosopher who authored several works on moral philosophy and natural religion. He was also a professor at the University of St. Andrews.

In the 19th century, David Wilkie (1785-1841) was a renowned Scottish painter known for his vivid and detailed genre scenes depicting everyday life in Scotland. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1811 and was appointed the King's Painter in 1830.

Sir John Wilkie (1835-1916) was a Scottish businessman and shipowner who co-founded the Wilkie & Richmond shipping company. He was knighted in 1897 for his contributions to the shipping industry.

William Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist and playwright, best known for his works "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone". He was a contemporary of Charles Dickens and is considered a pioneer of the detective fiction genre.

The WILKIE surname has also been found in various spellings throughout history, including Wilky, Wilkey, and Wilkeyn. While the name has Scottish origins, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and has been adopted by people of various nationalities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilkie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilkie 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. Angus leads with 864 Wilkies recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.38x.

County Total Index
Angus 864 22.38x
Lanarkshire 583 4.33x
Midlothian 515 9.23x
Fife 510 20.68x
Renfrewshire 211 6.54x
Perthshire 174 9.31x
Middlesex 147 0.35x
Lancashire 134 0.27x
Northumberland 124 2.00x
Durham 104 0.84x
Aberdeenshire 88 2.28x
Stirlingshire 73 4.75x
Ayrshire 68 2.18x
Surrey 44 0.22x
Argyllshire 43 3.71x
Dunbartonshire 41 3.66x
Kincardineshire 39 7.69x
Berwickshire 38 7.53x
Kent 38 0.27x
Yorkshire 38 0.09x
Kinross-shire 36 34.18x
Banffshire 32 3.70x
East Lothian 28 5.07x
Glamorgan 26 0.36x
Roxburghshire 26 3.45x
Hampshire 25 0.29x
Gloucestershire 19 0.23x
Cheshire 18 0.20x
Devon 16 0.18x
Essex 15 0.18x
Morayshire 13 2.01x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.23x
Clackmannanshire 11 3.20x
Cumberland 11 0.31x
Selkirkshire 11 2.92x
Buteshire 9 3.57x
West Lothian 9 1.43x
Peeblesshire 8 4.08x
Staffordshire 8 0.06x
Somerset 7 0.10x
Wigtownshire 7 1.27x
Hertfordshire 6 0.21x
Inverness-shire 5 0.40x
Sussex 5 0.07x
Cornwall 4 0.08x
Worcestershire 4 0.07x
Berkshire 3 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.11x
Lincolnshire 3 0.05x
Monmouthshire 3 0.10x
Derbyshire 2 0.03x
Ross-shire 2 0.17x
Warwickshire 2 0.02x
Bedfordshire 1 0.05x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 0.20x
Wiltshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 344 Wilkies recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.87x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 344 23.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 236 10.51x
Govan 173 5.19x
Barony 135 3.96x
Glasgow 117 4.89x
Liff Benvie 108 18.43x
Kirriemuir 83 87.15x
Forfar 63 30.14x
South Leith 49 7.80x
Scoonie 48 89.87x
Old Monkland 46 8.60x
Dunfermline 45 11.87x
West Greenock 45 7.76x
Dysart 43 25.89x
Newburgh 41 130.87x
Paisley High Church 41 15.95x
Montrose 39 16.67x
Bothwell 33 9.03x
Kettle 28 94.56x
St Vigeans 26 12.48x
Penicuik 25 32.96x
Aberdeen Old Machar 24 2.98x
Edinburgh St Marys 23 21.20x
Kinghorn 23 43.94x
Kirkcaldy 23 18.80x
Toxteth Park 23 1.37x
Tynemouth 23 6.93x
Markinch 22 26.27x
Bonhill 21 11.68x
Burntisland 21 30.46x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 20 15.15x
Inverkip 20 26.28x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 19 2.63x
Edinburgh New 19 43.83x
Falkirk 19 5.28x
Kilbarchan 19 19.37x
Perth East Church 19 10.78x
Auchterderran 18 29.03x
Beath 18 23.09x
East Greenock 18 5.90x
Keith 18 19.54x
North Leith 18 6.97x
Swansea Town 18 3.03x
Earlston 17 67.30x
Edinburgh St Stephens 17 15.47x
Perth West Church 17 19.16x
Colinton 16 25.71x
Glamis 16 68.70x
Hamilton 16 4.26x
Inverkeillor 16 66.86x
Kirkden 16 66.28x
Auchtermuchty 15 45.28x
Bedlington 15 7.25x
Cathcart 15 8.59x
Dundonald 15 13.05x
Westoe 15 2.13x
York St Mary 15 8.77x
Aberlemno 14 98.18x
Camberwell 14 0.53x
Inveresk 14 9.26x
Islington London 14 0.35x
Lambeth 14 0.39x
Larbert 14 15.24x
New Monkland 14 3.51x
St Andrews 14 12.48x
St Marylebone London 14 0.63x
Wigan 14 2.03x
Cadder 13 13.06x
Dunbar 13 16.80x
Oathlaw 13 204.08x
St Ninians 13 8.54x
Aberdour 12 48.31x
Anstruther Wester 12 125.00x
Arbroath 12 9.38x
Barrow In Furness 12 1.78x
Bishopwearmouth 12 1.13x
Cupar 12 11.19x
Edinburgh Trinity 12 66.78x
Kinross 12 33.23x
St Pancras London 12 0.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 53
William 43
James 40
George 33
Thomas 29
Robert 24
David 17
Alexander 13
Charles 13
Andrew 12
Henry 9
Joseph 9
Frederick 6
Edward 5
Ernest 4
Richard 4
Alexr. 3
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Jno. 3
Peter 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Alex 2
Allan 2
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Donald 2
Edmond 2
Jas. 2
Septimus 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alexandra 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Earle 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Franc 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
J.Or 1
J.W. 1
Jas.Pringle 1
Jeffrey 1
Kenyon 1

FAQ

Wilkie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilkie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,293 people were recorded with the Wilkie surname. That placed it at #1,043 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilkie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,379 in 2016. That gives Wilkie a modern rank of #1,247.

What does the Wilkie surname mean?

Derived from a diminutive of Will, a nickname for William, or from a place name meaning "willow tree."

What does the Wilkie map show?

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