UK surname
A German and Dutch toponymic surname indicating someone who lived near a willow tree or willow grove.
In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Wille surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 91, ranked #32,109, down from #27,314 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and St George the Martyr. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wille is 172 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.2%.
1881 census count
45
Ranked #27,314
Modern count
91
2016, ranked #32,109
Peak year
1861
172 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wille surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wille surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 172 | #13,619 |
| 1881 | historical | 45 | #27,314 |
| 1891 | historical | 128 | #20,393 |
| 1901 | historical | 104 | #22,310 |
| 1911 | historical | 119 | #20,535 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 93 | #28,711 |
| 2000 | modern | 91 | #28,952 |
| 2001 | modern | 86 | #29,281 |
| 2002 | modern | 84 | #29,982 |
| 2003 | modern | 79 | #30,549 |
| 2004 | modern | 80 | #30,679 |
| 2005 | modern | 79 | #30,950 |
| 2006 | modern | 84 | #30,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 87 | #30,666 |
| 2008 | modern | 84 | #31,370 |
| 2009 | modern | 91 | #30,944 |
| 2010 | modern | 86 | #32,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 82 | #32,449 |
| 2012 | modern | 82 | #32,701 |
| 2013 | modern | 90 | #32,146 |
| 2014 | modern | 90 | #32,309 |
| 2015 | modern | 92 | #32,075 |
| 2016 | modern | 91 | #32,109 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St George the Martyr and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wille surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wille, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wille surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wille household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wille is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wille is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wille, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WILLE originated in Germany, arising in the Middle Ages around the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "will" meaning "desire" or "willpower". The name likely referred to someone who was strong-willed or determined in character.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various German records and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is a mention of a Wilhelm Wille in a manuscript from the city of Cologne, dated around 1275.
The name WILLE was also found in some variation of spelling, such as Wil, Wyl, or Wylle, in various regions of Germany during this time period. It is possible that the name was influenced by or connected to certain place names, such as the town of Wil in Switzerland, which shares a similar root.
As the name spread across Europe, it appeared in records in other countries as well. For instance, there is a reference to a John Wille in the English county of Norfolk in the 16th century.
Notable individuals throughout history with the surname WILLE include:
1. Johann Georg Wille (1715-1808), a German engraver and painter who was renowned for his work during the Rococo period. 2. Tobias Wille (1699-1767), a German mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of calculus. 3. Elise Wille (1872-1939), a Norwegian writer and feminist who campaigned for women's rights and authored several novels. 4. Wilhelm Wille (1877-1937), a German painter and graphic artist known for his Expressionist works. 5. Friedrich Wille (1909-1993), a German politician and member of the Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany.
The surname WILLE has endured over centuries and can be found among various communities and nations, reflecting its German origins and the migration patterns of those who bore this name throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wille surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 14 Willes recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 14 | 22.42x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 2.97x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 1.36x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 2.75x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 2.14x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.92x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.83x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.23x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.81x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Keymer in Sussex leads with 7 Willes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1590.91x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Keymer | 7 | 1590.91x |
| Scarborough | 5 | 149.70x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 16.77x |
| Bethnal Green London | 4 | 24.86x |
| Lewes St Ann | 3 | 1428.57x |
| Atherstone | 2 | 416.67x |
| Bristol St Michael | 2 | 322.58x |
| Cliffe | 2 | 952.38x |
| Berkhampstead | 1 | 175.44x |
| Berwick Upon Tweed | 1 | 85.47x |
| Govan | 1 | 3.38x |
| Hartfield | 1 | 500.00x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 14.31x |
| South Malling | 1 | 1111.11x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 5.06x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 6.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wille surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wille surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Wille households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Assistant In Tobacco Factory | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Correspondent To Cotton Broker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gardener Domestic Svt | 1 |
| General Servt (Dom) | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Hat Trimmer | 1 |
| Hatter | 1 |
| Labourer Brickyard | 1 |
| Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Lithographer | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| No Special Occupation | 1 |
| Pork Butcher | 1 |
| Shop Boy | 1 |
| Solicitors General Clerk | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Wille surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016. That gives Wille a modern rank of #32,109.
A German and Dutch toponymic surname indicating someone who lived near a willow tree or willow grove.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wille bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.