UK surname
A surname derived from a personal name likely meaning "the son of William".
In the 1881 census there were 169 people recorded with the Willings surname, ranking it #14,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #14,324 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willings is 278 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.3%.
1881 census count
169
Ranked #14,324
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1861
278 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Willings surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Willings surname density by area, 1881 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 | 142 | #13,428 |
| 1861 | historical | 278 | #8,998 |
| 1881 | historical | 169 | #14,324 |
| 1891 | historical | 246 | #12,912 |
| 1901 | historical | 250 | #13,136 |
| 1911 | historical | 190 | #15,438 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 86 | #29,343 |
| 1999 | modern | 78 | #30,327 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 78 | #30,168 |
| 2002 | modern | 78 | #30,601 |
| 2003 | modern | 77 | #30,762 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 71 | #31,816 |
| 2006 | modern | 66 | #32,629 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 78 | #32,081 |
| 2009 | modern | 79 | #32,372 |
| 2010 | modern | 84 | #32,289 |
| 2011 | modern | 81 | #32,558 |
| 2012 | modern | 80 | #32,877 |
| 2013 | modern | 80 | #33,058 |
| 2014 | modern | 82 | #32,992 |
| 2015 | modern | 81 | #32,975 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Newcastle All Saints, Thriplow and St Dunstan Stepney. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 4 | Thriplow | Hertfordshire |
| 5 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Willings 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 Willings, 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 Willings surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Willings 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, Willings 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 Willings is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Willings, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Willings has its origins in England, most likely dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to be a patronymic or diminutive form of the Old English personal name Willis, a common medieval diminutive of the name William, combined with the Anglo-Saxon suffix "ing," which means "son of" or "descendant of." This suggests that the surname Willings could have originally meant "son of Will," where Will is short for William.
Historical references to the surname Willings are rare but can be found in various old records and manuscripts. For instance, one of the earlier mentions appears in the Subsidy Rolls, tax records from the 14th century, where a John Willings is noted in a record from 1327 in the county of Somerset. Another early instance includes a Richard Willings registered in the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire in 1379.
One notable early figure bearing this surname is William Willings, who was recorded as a landowner in 15th century Warwickshire. Another is Thomas Willings, who is mentioned in the London Apprenticeship Abstracts of 1603. These records provide valuable insights into the spread and establishment of the surname in various parts of England.
In the 17th century, Samuel Willings was a well-known merchant based in the port city of Bristol. He was noted for his trade connections with the American colonies and plays a small part in the commercial expansion of the era. Another significant figure is Edward Willings, born in 1782, who became notable through his contributions to early industrial advancements in Birmingham.
Perhaps the most famous person with this surname in more modern history is George Willings, born in 1801, who was a railway engineer during the early days of the British railway expansion. His contributions are documented in engineering journals of the time, reflecting the surname's association with progress and industry.
In summary, the surname Willings has its roots deeply embedded in the medieval patronymic system of England, evolving from a diminutive of the name William and spreading through various regions over the centuries. The name has been borne by a diverse array of individuals, from medieval landowners to early modern merchants and engineers, each contributing to the rich historical tapestry associated with this surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willings 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. Middlesex leads with 36 Willings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.18x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 36 | 2.18x |
| Surrey | 18 | 2.24x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 0.80x |
| Cambridgeshire | 12 | 11.49x |
| Shropshire | 12 | 8.43x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 0.56x |
| Durham | 10 | 2.04x |
| Glamorgan | 9 | 3.14x |
| Suffolk | 9 | 4.48x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 2.85x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 1.26x |
| Worcestershire | 6 | 2.79x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 1.94x |
| Kent | 5 | 0.89x |
| Essex | 4 | 1.23x |
| Devon | 3 | 0.87x |
| Radnorshire | 2 | 15.04x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanguick in Glamorgan leads with 9 Willings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 175.10x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Willings surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 6 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Edith | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Kate | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Jessie | 2 |
| Laura | 2 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Daisey | 1 |
| Daisy | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elisabeth | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Jemima | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kathleen | 1 |
| Lillian | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Marrian | 1 |
| Marrianne | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Polly | 1 |
| Prescilla | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Seville | 1 |
| Sonia | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Willings 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 Willings households.
FAQ
In 1881, 169 people were recorded with the Willings surname. That placed it at #14,324 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Willings a modern rank of #32,726.
A surname derived from a personal name likely meaning "the son of William".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Willings 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.