NameCensus.

UK surname

Will

An occupational surname referring to someone with strong determination or willpower, or a variant of William.

In the 1881 census there were 1,220 people recorded with the Will surname, ranking it #3,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,688, ranked #3,707, down from #3,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St. Fergus, Old Deer and Arbroath and St. Vigeans. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Deer and Mormond, Longside and Rattray and New Pitsligo.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Will is 1,688 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.4%.

1881 census count

1,220

Ranked #3,314

Modern count

1,688

2016, ranked #3,707

Peak year

2016

1,688 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Will had 1,220 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,688 in 2016, ranked #3,707.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,539 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Will surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Will surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Will 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 915 #3,016
1861 historical 1,459 #1,944
1881 historical 1,220 #3,314
1891 historical 1,539 #2,865
1901 historical 1,448 #3,516
1911 historical 305 #11,307
1997 modern 1,351 #4,259
1998 modern 1,375 #4,334
1999 modern 1,405 #4,289
2000 modern 1,415 #4,250
2001 modern 1,360 #4,300
2002 modern 1,423 #4,237
2003 modern 1,403 #4,223
2004 modern 1,404 #4,206
2005 modern 1,414 #4,160
2006 modern 1,389 #4,223
2007 modern 1,422 #4,179
2008 modern 1,451 #4,136
2009 modern 1,464 #4,192
2010 modern 1,498 #4,187
2011 modern 1,487 #4,181
2012 modern 1,526 #4,014
2013 modern 1,583 #3,949
2014 modern 1,635 #3,867
2015 modern 1,639 #3,812
2016 modern 1,688 #3,707

Geography

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Where Wills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St. Fergus, Old Deer, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Methlick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Deer and Mormond, Longside and Rattray, New Pitsligo, Inverurie South and Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 St. Fergus Aberdeen
2 Old Deer Aberdeen
3 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Methlick Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Deer and Mormond Aberdeenshire
2 Longside and Rattray Aberdeenshire
3 New Pitsligo Aberdeenshire
4 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire
5 Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Will

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Will

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Will surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Will household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Will 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

Will 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

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

Meaning and origin of Will

The surname WILL is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "willa" meaning "will" or "desire." It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

In its earliest form, WILL was likely used as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who were known for their strong-willed or determined nature. It may have also been bestowed upon those who displayed a particular skill or talent, reflecting their "will" or ability to accomplish tasks.

The surname WILL can be traced back to various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire, where it was most prevalent in its early history. It is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname WILL is found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the late 12th century, where a person named Willelmus le Wille is mentioned. This spelling variation, "le Wille," provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname WILL. One prominent example is William Will (1556-1598), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the Sabbath. Another is John Will (1671-1725), a Scottish theologian and philosopher who served as the Principal of the University of St. Andrews.

In the realm of literature, Dorothy Will (1895-1980) was an American author and playwright known for her works on Native American themes. In the world of sports, Bobby Will (1939-2016) was a professional baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers in the 1960s.

The name WILL has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Willingham in Cambridgeshire and Willoughby in Lincolnshire, which may have influenced the surname's development and regional distribution.

While the surname WILL has evolved over centuries and spread across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "willa," reflecting the strong-willed and determined nature of its early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Will families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Will 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 494 Wills recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.75x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 494 44.75x
Angus 282 25.54x
Kincardineshire 90 62.00x
Banffshire 74 29.93x
Midlothian 39 2.44x
Middlesex 33 0.28x
Perthshire 28 5.23x
Lanarkshire 20 0.52x
Yorkshire 17 0.14x
Lancashire 14 0.10x
Surrey 14 0.24x
Orkney 11 8.39x
Durham 9 0.25x
Roxburghshire 7 3.24x
Royal Navy 7 4.93x
Shropshire 7 0.68x
Dunbartonshire 6 1.87x
Gloucestershire 6 0.26x
Warwickshire 6 0.20x
Wiltshire 6 0.57x
Argyllshire 5 1.51x
Fife 5 0.71x
Sutherland 5 5.45x
Kent 4 0.10x
Dorset 3 0.38x
Glamorgan 3 0.14x
Monmouthshire 3 0.35x
Channel Islands 2 0.57x
Derbyshire 2 0.11x
Devon 2 0.08x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Somerset 2 0.10x
Stirlingshire 2 0.45x
Sussex 2 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.13x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.04x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Lincolnshire 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Peeblesshire 1 1.78x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x

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 139 Wills recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.72x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 139 33.72x
Aberdeen Old Machar 69 29.94x
Fraserburgh 60 193.05x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 47 22.75x
Peterhead 41 70.23x
St Fergus 39 624.00x
Longside 26 197.27x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 24 3.74x
Ellon 24 158.10x
Brechin 22 50.69x
Methlick 22 248.87x
Fetteresso 20 87.91x
Old Deer 20 95.60x
Liff Benvie 19 11.33x
Rayne 19 362.60x
St Vigeans 19 31.87x
Tarves 16 153.26x
Bervie 14 162.79x
Lonmay 14 139.72x
Banchory Ternan 13 103.59x
Bourtie 13 687.83x
Dunnottar 12 117.53x
Keith 12 45.52x
Foveran 11 131.58x
Barony 10 1.02x
Coupar Angus 10 95.69x
Govan 10 1.05x
King Edward 10 78.62x
Kintore 10 104.28x
Marnoch 10 75.30x
New Deer 10 50.03x
Arbroath 9 24.59x
Barry 9 67.92x
Laurencekirk 9 107.02x
Battersea 8 1.82x
Hackney London 8 1.20x
Kilspindie 8 282.69x
Mains 8 85.29x
Monifieth 8 20.51x
Montrose 8 11.95x
Monymusk 8 169.13x
Auchterless 7 79.91x
Banchory Devenick 7 51.62x
Cullen 7 76.42x
Errol 7 70.64x
Jedburgh 7 33.08x
Kirriemuir 7 25.69x
Shrewsbury St Chad 7 19.37x
St Pancras London 7 0.73x
Stromness 7 71.14x
Alford 6 99.83x
Birmingham 6 0.60x
Carmyllie 6 127.66x
Huntly 6 33.41x
Kirkintilloch 6 13.79x
Lundie 6 465.12x
Perth East Church 6 11.90x
York St Mary 6 12.26x
Banff 5 23.28x
Birse 5 111.86x
Campbeltown 5 12.49x
Creich 5 54.76x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 5 13.23x
Forgue 5 50.40x
Glenbervie 5 125.94x
Leeds 5 0.75x
Oyne 5 127.23x
Shrewton 5 181.16x
Bishopwearmouth 4 1.31x
Bradford 4 1.40x
Collace 4 239.52x
Edinburgh Old 4 41.28x
Fordoun 4 49.20x
Liverpool 4 0.47x
Newhills 4 17.69x
Premnay 4 105.54x
Royal Navy 4 3.29x
Sandwick 4 81.30x
Walton On Hill 4 5.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Kate 5
Margaret 3
Rebecca 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Alma 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Catherine 1
Charlott 1
Christina 1
Euphemia 1
Grace 1
Johanna 1
Lavi 1
Leah 1
Marie 1
Matilda 1
Olivia 1
Phillipina 1
Phoebe 1
Selina 1
Sirena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 9
George 7
Charles 6
Henry 5
Thomas 5
David 4
James 4
Alexander 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Sydney 2
Yellow 2
Aaron 1
Alexr. 1
Alfred 1
Ernest 1
Forbes 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Hermann 1
Jim 1
Joseph 1
Lawrance 1
Levi 1
Murray 1
Otto 1
Richard 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Will surname: questions and answers

How common was the Will surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,220 people were recorded with the Will surname. That placed it at #3,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Will surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,688 in 2016. That gives Will a modern rank of #3,707.

What does the Will surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone with strong determination or willpower, or a variant of William.

What does the Will map show?

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