NameCensus.

UK surname

Willans

In the 1881 census there were 287 people recorded with the Willans surname, ranking it #10,014 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 472, ranked #10,433, down from #10,014 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Birstall and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Darlington and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willans is 486 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.5%.

1881 census count

287

Ranked #10,014

Modern count

472

2016, ranked #10,433

Peak year

2000

486 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willans had 287 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,014 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 472 in 2016, ranked #10,433.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 468 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Willans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willans surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willans 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 219 #9,712
1861 historical 152 #15,126
1881 historical 287 #10,014
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 401 #9,472
1911 historical 468 #8,247
1997 modern 451 #10,049
1998 modern 455 #10,315
1999 modern 470 #10,120
2000 modern 486 #9,837
2001 modern 479 #9,767
2002 modern 481 #9,923
2003 modern 465 #9,985
2004 modern 454 #10,229
2005 modern 452 #10,173
2006 modern 437 #10,487
2007 modern 429 #10,747
2008 modern 437 #10,694
2009 modern 446 #10,755
2010 modern 482 #10,319
2011 modern 479 #10,280
2012 modern 466 #10,403
2013 modern 478 #10,362
2014 modern 474 #10,486
2015 modern 465 #10,572
2016 modern 472 #10,433

Geography

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Where Willans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Birstall, Batley and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Darlington, East Hampshire and North Hertfordshire. 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 1
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 015 Kirklees
2 Darlington 001 Darlington
3 Darlington 011 Darlington
4 East Hampshire 012 East Hampshire
5 North Hertfordshire 004 North Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willans

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Willans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Willans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Willans is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Willans is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Willans falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Willans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Willans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willans 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. Yorkshire leads with 176 Willans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.39x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 176 6.39x
Lancashire 36 1.09x
Middlesex 18 0.65x
Northumberland 13 3.14x
Durham 12 1.45x
Cheshire 7 1.14x
Kent 4 0.42x
Surrey 4 0.30x
Berkshire 3 1.44x
Channel Islands 3 3.64x
Essex 2 0.36x
Hertfordshire 2 1.04x
Ayrshire 1 0.48x
Leicestershire 1 0.32x
Monmouthshire 1 0.50x
Roxburghshire 1 1.99x
Sussex 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hunslet in Yorkshire leads with 44 Willans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 102.42x.

Place Total Index
Hunslet 44 102.42x
Batley 23 87.85x
Holbeck 23 126.03x
Leeds 23 14.79x
Gorton 12 38.70x
Hillingdon 10 112.87x
Gomersal 9 69.98x
Soothill 8 80.40x
Upleatham 8 1702.13x
Pemberton 7 53.23x
Stockport 7 22.17x
Darlington 6 18.79x
Elswick 6 18.18x
Huddersfield 6 14.95x
Morton In Guisbrough 6 10000.00x
Cowpen 5 52.52x
Almondbury 4 30.03x
Bradford 4 25.91x
Hampstead London 4 9.24x
Lewisham 4 7.91x
Spotland 4 10.91x
Wigan 4 8.68x
Baildon 3 57.80x
Dewsbury 3 10.62x
Manchester 3 2.02x
Mirfield 3 19.84x
Reading St Mary 3 17.95x
St Peter Port 3 19.69x
Staindrop 3 238.10x
Barrow In Furness 2 4.46x
Calverley Cum Farsley 2 25.58x
East Layton 2 1333.33x
Great Hadham 2 161.29x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 11.28x
Middlesbrough 2 5.58x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 8.10x
Norwood 2 31.45x
Raby Keverstone 2 740.74x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.58x
Bingley 1 5.70x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.41x
Eastbourne 1 4.64x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.78x
Hawick 1 8.87x
Knighton 1 57.47x
Lambeth 1 0.41x
Leigh 1 52.36x
Mynyddyslwyn 1 12.61x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 1 44.64x
Skircoat 1 9.21x
St Marylebone London 1 0.67x
Stevenston 1 18.45x
Upsall In Guisbrough 1 769.23x
Wanstead 1 10.41x
Westminster St John 1 2.95x
Woking 1 12.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 16
James 10
Joseph 8
Thomas 7
George 6
Fred 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Henry 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Ben 2
Joah 2
Martin 2
Sam 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
Freddy 1
G. 1
Henrich 1
Jacob 1
Obe 1
Richard 1
Silvester 1
Stephen 1
Tim 1
Timothy 1
Wallace 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Willans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 287 people were recorded with the Willans surname. That placed it at #10,014 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 472 in 2016. That gives Willans a modern rank of #10,433.

What does the Willans map show?

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