NameCensus.

UK surname

Willetts

A variant spelling of the surname Willet, derived from the Middle English personal name Wylet.

In the 1881 census there were 1,677 people recorded with the Willetts surname, ranking it #2,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,720, ranked #1,828, up from #2,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Rowley Regis and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willetts is 4,037 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 121.8%.

1881 census count

1,677

Ranked #2,559

Modern count

3,720

2016, ranked #1,828

Peak year

1998

4,037 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willetts had 1,677 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,720 in 2016, ranked #1,828.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,049 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Willetts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willetts surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willetts 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 862 #3,157
1861 historical 780 #3,524
1881 historical 1,677 #2,559
1891 historical 1,831 #2,510
1901 historical 2,760 #2,012
1911 historical 3,049 #1,710
1997 modern 3,933 #1,655
1998 modern 4,037 #1,677
1999 modern 4,036 #1,685
2000 modern 3,973 #1,707
2001 modern 3,926 #1,684
2002 modern 4,007 #1,686
2003 modern 3,920 #1,683
2004 modern 3,931 #1,690
2005 modern 3,833 #1,705
2006 modern 3,784 #1,727
2007 modern 3,797 #1,735
2008 modern 3,774 #1,757
2009 modern 3,807 #1,783
2010 modern 3,854 #1,804
2011 modern 3,880 #1,766
2012 modern 3,771 #1,786
2013 modern 3,814 #1,800
2014 modern 3,829 #1,799
2015 modern 3,777 #1,805
2016 modern 3,720 #1,828

Geography

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Where Willetts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Rowley Regis, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire), Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley and Sandwell. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
3 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 018 Dudley
2 Sandwell 038 Sandwell
3 Dudley 033 Dudley
4 Dudley 025 Dudley
5 Sandwell 035 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willetts

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willetts

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Willetts, 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 Willetts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Willetts household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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, Willetts 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

Willetts is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Willetts falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Willetts

The surname Willetts is of English origin and dates back to at least the medieval period. It is derived from diminutive forms of the given name William, which itself is of Norman origin, from the Old French Guillaume and the Old Germanic Willahelm, meaning "wilful protector." The diminutive suffixes like -et or -ot were commonly added to given names in medieval England to signify a smaller or younger version of the original name, hence Willetts likely means "little William" or "son of William."

One of the earliest areas associated with the surname Willetts is Worcestershire, a county in the West Midlands of England. This region, known for its strong medieval heritage, was one of the heartlands of early English surnames. Old records dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries show variations of the name, such as Willett, Willet, and Willetts. These spellings were often used interchangeably in the historical manuscripts of the period.

The name Willetts appears in several early records. For instance, a Johannes Willett was listed in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were a census commissioned by King Edward I. Another early record includes a reference to Edward Willett in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in the early 14th century. These records are significant as they provide evidence of the surname's usage and establish a historical presence in specific areas.

One notable individual bearing the surname was Edward Willett, a renowned silversmith born in the early 1600s and active in London. His works were highly valued, and examples of his craftsmanship are preserved in various museums. Additionally, Benjamin Willett, a merchant active in the late 17th century, was instrumental in the economic development of the British colonies in America.

Thomas Willetts, born in 1617 in Kent, England, and later migrating to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, is another significant figure. He was an early settler who contributed to the expansion of English settlements in the New World. His contributions to the colony were widely recognized, and his progeny continued to play crucial roles in the development of early American society.

Moving forwards, Edward Willetts, a notable 19th-century figure, was an influential agricultural pioneer in the United States, assisting in the development of modern farming techniques.

In summary, the surname Willetts has a rich and varied history, originating from medieval England and evolving through centuries of migration and societal changes. The name is rooted in the given name William, modified through diminutive forms common in Middle English. The name has appeared in significant historical records and has been associated with several notable individuals over the centuries, reflecting a deep-seated heritage in both England and early America.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Willetts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willetts 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 747 Willetts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.54x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 747 13.54x
Worcestershire 531 24.87x
Warwickshire 131 3.18x
Gloucestershire 76 2.37x
Lancashire 35 0.18x
Derbyshire 29 1.13x
Middlesex 27 0.17x
Yorkshire 18 0.11x
Kent 11 0.20x
Monmouthshire 10 0.85x
Essex 8 0.25x
Shropshire 8 0.57x
Herefordshire 7 1.04x
Flintshire 6 1.37x
Surrey 6 0.08x
Glamorgan 5 0.18x
Lincolnshire 5 0.19x
Midlothian 5 0.23x
Durham 3 0.06x
Hampshire 2 0.06x
Norfolk 2 0.08x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.51x
Sussex 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rowley Regis in Staffordshire leads with 478 Willetts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 310.81x.

Place Total Index
Rowley Regis 478 310.81x
Dudley 179 68.96x
Birmingham 75 5.46x
Hasbury 67 479.94x
Cradley 55 284.83x
Aston 46 4.05x
Handsworth 40 29.41x
Tipton 36 21.30x
Westbury On Severn East 36 49.66x
The Hill 29 211.52x
Wednesfield 26 32.02x
Kings Norton 25 13.06x
Oldbury 24 22.85x
Hagley 23 332.85x
Gradley 21 203.69x
Sedgley 20 9.76x
West Bromwich 20 6.33x
Lutley 19 1862.75x
Willenhall 18 17.41x
Cakemore 17 485.71x
Darlaston 16 20.98x
Barrow In Furness 15 5.69x
West Dean 15 28.80x
Wednesbury 14 10.15x
Walsall Foreign 13 4.56x
Halesowen 12 64.03x
Harborne 11 6.22x
Newland 11 40.82x
Kidderminster Borough 10 8.00x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 9 43.42x
Hawn 9 225.00x
Lydney 9 54.38x
Sandiacre 8 87.62x
West Ham 8 1.12x
Wolverhampton 8 1.89x
Bilston 7 6.55x
Brewood 7 44.00x
Lye 7 19.70x
Woolwich 7 3.40x
Cannock 6 6.23x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 1.82x
Hawarden Saltney 6 97.72x
Hill Moor 6 317.46x
Kingswinford 6 2.99x
Monmouth 6 19.14x
Abbots Bromley 5 61.12x
Brightside Bierlow 5 1.57x
Hartlebury 5 39.34x
Hereford All Sts 5 16.28x
Lapal 5 255.10x
Leamington 5 18.30x
Liverpool 5 0.42x
Mile End Old Town 5 1.94x
Sheffield 5 0.97x
South Leith 5 2.03x
Wirksworth 5 21.49x
Aldridge 4 37.70x
Chaddesden 4 117.30x
Cheadle 4 15.09x
Coventry St Michael 4 3.02x
Derby St Werburgh 4 2.71x
Gainsborough 4 6.49x
Hornsey 4 1.93x
Kinlet 4 165.29x
Redditch 4 9.24x
Wollaston 4 29.54x
Bishopwearmouth 3 0.72x
Bury 3 1.35x
Chelsea London 3 0.61x
Dawley 3 5.84x
Derby St Peter 3 3.68x
Greenwich 3 1.15x
Limehouse London 3 1.67x
Spitalfields London 3 2.44x
Ystradyfodwg 3 1.20x
Kensington London 2 0.22x
Poplar London 2 0.65x
Romsley 2 86.21x
Usk 2 20.43x
Wall 2 307.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 104
Sarah 85
Elizabeth 50
Ann 37
Emma 31
Annie 28
Hannah 27
Alice 26
Eliza 25
Ellen 23
Martha 21
Jane 19
Caroline 14
Ruth 13
Edith 11
Emily 11
Harriet 11
Esther 10
Fanny 10
Clara 9
Maria 9
Lucy 8
Louisa 7
Ada 6
Amelia 6
Betsy 6
Catherine 6
Charlotte 6
Florence 6
Harriett 6
Phoebe 6
Rebecca 6
Selina 6
Minnie 5
Rhoda 5
Susannah 5
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Bertha 4
Kate 4
Lizzie 4
Phebe 4
Amy 3
Matilda 3
Miriam 3
Myra 3
Phillis 3
Polly 3
Priscilla 3
Sophia 3

Top male names

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

FAQ

Willetts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willetts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,677 people were recorded with the Willetts surname. That placed it at #2,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willetts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,720 in 2016. That gives Willetts a modern rank of #1,828.

What does the Willetts surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Willet, derived from the Middle English personal name Wylet.

What does the Willetts map show?

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