NameCensus.

UK surname

Willets

An English surname derived from a place name referring to a small meadow or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 305 people recorded with the Willets surname, ranking it #9,615 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, down from #9,615 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dawley, Magna, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen, South Kesteven and Telford and Wrekin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willets is 364 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.0%.

1881 census count

305

Ranked #9,615

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

1911

364 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willets had 305 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,615 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 364 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Willets surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willets surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willets 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 196 #10,573
1861 historical 228 #10,703
1881 historical 305 #9,615
1891 historical 254 #12,598
1901 historical 319 #11,166
1911 historical 364 #9,985
1997 modern 215 #16,844
1998 modern 215 #17,306
1999 modern 208 #17,808
2000 modern 195 #18,494
2001 modern 182 #19,039
2002 modern 178 #19,671
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 182 #19,402
2007 modern 188 #19,204
2008 modern 198 #18,753
2009 modern 210 #18,426
2010 modern 202 #19,322
2011 modern 198 #19,410
2012 modern 203 #19,025
2013 modern 197 #19,725
2014 modern 193 #20,159
2015 modern 190 #20,272
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

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Where Willets' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dawley, Magna, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Dudley, Rowley Regis and Oldswinford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackburn with Darwen, South Kesteven, Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire. 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 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
5 Oldswinford Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackburn with Darwen 011 Blackburn with Darwen
2 South Kesteven 005 South Kesteven
3 Telford and Wrekin 009 Telford and Wrekin
4 Telford and Wrekin 017 Telford and Wrekin
5 Shropshire 029 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willets

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willets

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Willets surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Willets household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Willets 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

Willets 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

Willets 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 Willets 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Willets

The surname Willets has its origin in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic surname derived from the given name William, which itself comes from the Old German name Wilhelm, composed of the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." Over time, various diminutive and pet forms of William arose, such as Willet, Willets, and Willett, reflecting the affectionate modifications customary in Old and Middle English.

The name was first documented in regions such as Sussex and Kent in southern England, suggesting that the Willets family likely hailed from these areas. One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332, where a person named Richard Willet is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, listed as Robert Willet.

Several historical documents reflect the presence of the Willets surname in various spellings, including parish registers, court rolls, and tax records. For example, an entry in the Gloucestershire parish registers from 1540 records the marriage of Thomas Willets. Additionally, the Deltiology Records of Sussex from 1622 mention Anne Willets, a woman of some standing in the community.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Willets include Andrew Willets (1562-1621), a prominent English clergyman and theologian known for his extensive religious writings and sermons. Another significant figure is Charles Willets (1793-1866), an early industrialist who made considerable contributions to the development of textile manufacturing in the Midlands during the Industrial Revolution.

In the realm of politics, Sir Roger Willets (1803-1878), a Member of Parliament for a district in Lancashire, played an essential role in advocating for social reforms during the 19th century. He was noted for his dedication to improving the living conditions of the working class.

The surname continued to be prominent into the 20th century, with figures such as Harold Willets (1872-1949), an accomplished botanist and educator whose research greatly contributed to the scientific understanding of plant biology. His works were widely published, and he was a respected figure in academic circles.

Overall, the surname Willets carries a rich historical background rooted in medieval England, tracing its lineage through notable figures who have contributed to various fields such as theology, industry, politics, and science.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Willets families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willets 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. Staffordshire leads with 88 Willets' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.76x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 88 8.76x
Worcestershire 65 16.73x
Warwickshire 37 4.93x
Shropshire 29 11.28x
Middlesex 17 0.57x
Surrey 16 1.10x
Gloucestershire 12 2.06x
Lancashire 9 0.25x
Kent 8 0.79x
Berkshire 6 2.69x
Derbyshire 6 1.29x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.59x
Devon 2 0.32x
Yorkshire 2 0.07x
Durham 1 0.11x
Essex 1 0.17x
Glamorgan 1 0.19x
Herefordshire 1 0.82x
Orkney 1 3.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dawley in Shropshire leads with 19 Willets' recorded in 1881 and an index of 203.21x.

Place Total Index
Dawley 19 203.21x
Upperswinford 19 577.51x
Aston 15 7.26x
Birmingham 15 6.00x
West Bromwich 15 26.09x
Walsall Foreign 14 26.99x
Rowley Regis 12 42.87x
Willenhall 9 47.85x
Burntwood Edial 8 124.81x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 13.36x
Wellington 8 55.36x
Dudley 7 14.82x
Newington 7 6.37x
Gillingham 6 28.67x
Lye 6 92.74x
Sutton Coldfield 6 76.05x
Wollescote 6 191.69x
Belbroughton 5 247.52x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 9.10x
Cakemore 5 781.25x
Sedgley 5 13.40x
St Dunstan In East 5 2272.73x
Wednesfield 5 33.83x
Wolverley 5 146.63x
Amblecote 4 139.86x
Atherton 4 31.13x
Binfield 4 233.92x
Droitwich St Andrew 4 408.16x
Islington London 4 1.39x
Mile End Old Town 4 8.52x
West Dean 4 42.19x
Whittington 4 62.11x
Ince In Makerfield 3 18.26x
Kingswinford 3 8.23x
Rushall 3 50.76x
Cardington 2 338.98x
Cheltenham 2 4.44x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.55x
Great Shelford 2 202.02x
Harborne 2 6.21x
Kings Norton 2 5.74x
Monkleigh 2 363.64x
Ombersley 2 92.59x
Wednesbury 2 7.97x
Wolverhampton 2 2.59x
Alvechurch 1 60.61x
Battersea 1 0.91x
Bury 1 2.48x
Droitwich St Nicholas 1 69.44x
Eccleshall 1 26.25x
Great Faringdon 1 31.15x
Handsworth 1 4.04x
Hartlebury 1 43.29x
Havercroft Cum Cold 1 196.08x
Hulland Ward 1 250.00x
Lambourne 1 114.94x
Llansamlet Higher 1 25.91x
Openshaw 1 6.05x
Pampisford 1 277.78x
Pelsall 1 33.44x
Shapinshay 1 101.01x
Sonning 1 40.49x
St Faith Under St 1 588.24x
St Marylebone London 1 0.63x
Staveley 1 12.09x
Stoke Bliss 1 588.24x
Stowe 1 263.16x
Tanworth 1 50.51x
Tottenham 1 2.11x
Towerof London London 1 105.26x
Westbury On Severn East 1 7.58x
Westoe 1 1.99x
Whistones 1 35.59x
York St Mary 1 8.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 14
Thomas 13
George 11
Joseph 11
Samuel 11
Charles 10
James 7
Alfred 5
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Isaiah 2
Robert 2
Absalom 1
Adam 1
Albert 1
Benj. 1
Claude 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
Isiah 1
J.W.S. 1
Noah 1
Oliver 1
Philip 1
Richd. 1
Soloman 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Willets surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willets surname in 1881?

In 1881, 305 people were recorded with the Willets surname. That placed it at #9,615 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willets surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Willets a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Willets surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to a small meadow or stream.

What does the Willets map show?

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