NameCensus.

UK surname

Willey

Derived from a place name meaning "willow wood" or from a nickname for a person resembling a willow tree.

In the 1881 census there were 2,688 people recorded with the Willey surname, ranking it #1,654 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,416, ranked #2,725, down from #1,654 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Walsall and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willey is 3,610 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.1%.

1881 census count

2,688

Ranked #1,654

Modern count

2,416

2016, ranked #2,725

Peak year

1911

3,610 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willey had 2,688 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,654 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,416 in 2016, ranked #2,725.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,610 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Willey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willey 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 1,902 #1,523
1861 historical 1,971 #1,481
1881 historical 2,688 #1,654
1891 historical 3,023 #1,557
1901 historical 3,219 #1,742
1911 historical 3,610 #1,447
1997 modern 2,818 #2,290
1998 modern 2,877 #2,331
1999 modern 2,837 #2,368
2000 modern 2,802 #2,378
2001 modern 2,756 #2,373
2002 modern 2,763 #2,409
2003 modern 2,724 #2,395
2004 modern 2,697 #2,413
2005 modern 2,577 #2,474
2006 modern 2,560 #2,491
2007 modern 2,562 #2,515
2008 modern 2,549 #2,538
2009 modern 2,583 #2,569
2010 modern 2,629 #2,588
2011 modern 2,563 #2,612
2012 modern 2,467 #2,656
2013 modern 2,489 #2,674
2014 modern 2,480 #2,703
2015 modern 2,437 #2,717
2016 modern 2,416 #2,725

Geography

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Where Willeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Mullion and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Walsall and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Mullion Cornwall
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 071 Cornwall
2 Walsall 018 Walsall
3 Cornwall 072 Cornwall
4 Sunderland 035 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 009 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willey

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Willey is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Willey 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

Willey falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Willey

The surname Willey is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "wil" meaning willow and "lēah" meaning wood, clearing, or meadow. It was initially given as a topographic name to someone who lived near a willow tree or in a clearing where willows grew.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Willey appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Wilelei" in Bedfordshire. This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the medieval period, the surname was also spelled as Wylly, Willi, and Wilie, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. These early spellings can be found in various historical records, such as parish registers and tax rolls.

In the 16th century, the name Willey was associated with several notable individuals. One example is John Willey (c. 1519-1597), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Carlisle from 1593 until his death.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Willey (1766-1826), an American farmer and innkeeper from New Hampshire. He and his family gained tragic fame after being killed in the Willey House Slide, a landslide that destroyed their home in the White Mountains in 1826.

In the 19th century, Sir Samuel Willey (1823-1903) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings, including the Holborn Viaduct in London.

Moving into the 20th century, Robert Willey (1908-1988) was an American politician who served as the Governor of Connecticut from 1963 to 1966.

Lastly, Malcolm Willey (1935-2020) was a renowned British actor best known for his roles in various television series, including "Keeping Up Appearances" and "Lovejoy."

The surname Willey has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Willey in Shropshire and Willey Green in Hertfordshire, further reflecting its topographic origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Willey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willey 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 604 Willeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.32x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 604 2.32x
Lincolnshire 260 6.18x
Durham 252 3.22x
Middlesex 189 0.72x
Devon 175 3.19x
Cornwall 164 5.50x
Somerset 112 2.64x
Surrey 88 0.69x
Nottinghamshire 78 2.20x
Leicestershire 75 2.57x
Kent 65 0.72x
Worcestershire 64 1.86x
Gloucestershire 48 0.93x
Lancashire 48 0.15x
Warwickshire 48 0.72x
Hertfordshire 46 2.54x
Northumberland 46 1.17x
Essex 43 0.83x
Sussex 34 0.77x
Derbyshire 29 0.70x
Glamorgan 27 0.59x
Staffordshire 25 0.28x
Northamptonshire 20 0.81x
Cheshire 15 0.26x
Monmouthshire 15 0.79x
Norfolk 15 0.37x
Hampshire 13 0.24x
Dorset 12 0.69x
Berkshire 10 0.51x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.63x
Westmorland 10 1.73x
Caernarfonshire 8 0.75x
Shropshire 7 0.31x
Bedfordshire 6 0.44x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.72x
Suffolk 6 0.19x
Royal Navy 5 1.59x
Channel Islands 4 0.51x
Cumberland 4 0.18x
Montgomeryshire 4 0.66x
Midlothian 2 0.06x
Rutland 2 1.04x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
Morayshire 1 0.24x
Radnorshire 1 0.47x
Wiltshire 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. Kidderminster Borough in Worcestershire leads with 57 Willeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.34x.

Place Total Index
Kidderminster Borough 57 28.34x
Sutton In Ashfield 37 48.06x
Exeter St Sidwell 36 28.69x
Stockton On Tees 36 9.54x
Sheffield 35 4.22x
Camberwell 33 1.96x
Mullion 33 603.29x
Leeds 31 2.11x
North Somercotes 29 263.16x
Rawmarsh 28 30.39x
Bradford 27 4.28x
Helston 27 87.18x
Islington London 27 1.06x
Bedminster 26 6.53x
Kimberworth 26 17.96x
St Marylebone London 26 1.85x
Sutton In Marsh 26 800.00x
Ecclesall Bierlow 23 4.34x
Leicester St Margaret 22 3.09x
Toxteth Park 22 2.08x
Ebchester 21 173.12x
Louth 21 21.78x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 21 22.54x
Yarcombe 21 333.86x
Lambeth 19 0.83x
Mountnessing 18 228.43x
Birmingham 17 0.77x
Greasbrough 17 49.36x
Great Grimsby 16 5.99x
Illogan 16 20.28x
Bishop Stortford 15 24.76x
Canterbury St Mary 15 24.89x
Clee With Weelsby 15 16.28x
Heapham 15 1153.85x
Nether Hallam 15 4.25x
Sculcoates 15 3.63x
Hipperholme Cum 14 12.22x
Usworth 14 33.67x
Exeter St David 13 27.78x
Stockland 13 164.14x
Brightside Bierlow 12 2.35x
Bristol St Paul In 12 8.73x
Chard 12 23.38x
Doncaster 12 6.30x
Drayton 12 316.62x
Gilmorton 12 206.90x
Horton In Bradford 12 2.95x
Isle Brewers 12 421.05x
Slaley 12 311.69x
Southcoates 12 8.29x
Westbury On Trym 12 6.86x
Wolsingham 12 16.82x
Bilsby 11 239.13x
Clerkenwell London 11 1.77x
Holy Trinity 11 95.65x
Darfield 10 42.12x
Glossop Dale 10 5.18x
Gulval 10 52.14x
Leamington Priors 10 6.12x
Lenton 10 11.97x
Merthyr Tydfil 10 2.27x
Mumby 10 172.71x
Northowram 10 5.47x
Plymouth Charles The 10 4.14x
Skelton In Great 10 371.75x
Sowerby In Thirsk 10 63.69x
Wakefield 10 4.99x
Whitworth 10 17.45x
Witton Le Wear 10 45.02x
Worksop 10 9.50x
Bengeo 9 42.76x
Cumberworth 9 447.76x
Deal 9 11.75x
Exeter St Mary Major 9 27.25x
Harthill Cum Woodall 9 90.09x
Kenwyn 9 11.55x
Leicester St Mary 9 3.82x
Merrington 9 59.72x
Newport 9 9.92x
St Clement Danes 9 21.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 200
Elizabeth 102
Sarah 98
Jane 73
Ann 55
Eliza 49
Emma 48
Alice 41
Ellen 40
Annie 36
Hannah 27
Emily 25
Florence 20
Edith 18
Frances 17
Margaret 17
Caroline 16
Catherine 15
Martha 15
Susan 15
Kate 14
Charlotte 13
Harriet 13
Ada 12
Clara 11
Fanny 11
Louisa 11
Lucy 11
Maria 11
Rebecca 11
Anne 10
Rose 9
Agnes 8
Eleanor 8
Isabella 8
Laura 7
Susannah 7
Anna 6
Jessie 6
Julia 6
Matilda 6
Bessie 5
Elizth. 5
Harriett 5
Helen 5
Ruth 5
Amelia 4
Amy 4
Lavinia 4
Rachel 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 183
William 108
Thomas 104
George 101
James 63
Henry 59
Charles 52
Joseph 52
Edward 36
Robert 33
Alfred 30
Arthur 30
Frederick 28
Samuel 27
Walter 27
Richard 19
Harry 18
Albert 12
Edwin 12
Francis 11
Ernest 10
Frank 10
Fred 10
Joshua 9
Thos. 9
David 8
Tom 8
Herbert 7
Matthew 7
Michael 7
Stephen 7
Fredk. 6
Fredrick 6
Isaac 6
Peter 6
Benjamin 4
Josiah 4
Leonard 4
Mark 4
Abraham 3
Andrew 3
Geo. 3
Henery 3
Moses 3
Sidney 3
Ben 2
Charley 2
Chas. 2
Paul 2
Percy 2

FAQ

Willey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,688 people were recorded with the Willey surname. That placed it at #1,654 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,416 in 2016. That gives Willey a modern rank of #2,725.

What does the Willey surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "willow wood" or from a nickname for a person resembling a willow tree.

What does the Willey map show?

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