NameCensus.

UK surname

Willison

Son of William, an English patronymic surname derived from the popular medieval given name William.

In the 1881 census there were 637 people recorded with the Willison surname, ranking it #5,577 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 671, ranked #7,978, down from #5,577 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitby, London parishes and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Scarborough and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willison is 797 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.3%.

1881 census count

637

Ranked #5,577

Modern count

671

2016, ranked #7,978

Peak year

1891

797 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willison had 637 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,577 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 671 in 2016, ranked #7,978.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 797 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Willison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willison 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 548 #4,617
1861 historical 725 #3,756
1881 historical 637 #5,577
1891 historical 797 #5,051
1901 historical 771 #5,815
1911 historical 705 #6,048
1997 modern 692 #7,314
1998 modern 717 #7,337
1999 modern 744 #7,190
2000 modern 731 #7,251
2001 modern 708 #7,308
2002 modern 735 #7,221
2003 modern 715 #7,255
2004 modern 696 #7,437
2005 modern 678 #7,534
2006 modern 667 #7,651
2007 modern 670 #7,695
2008 modern 660 #7,817
2009 modern 683 #7,791
2010 modern 702 #7,761
2011 modern 669 #7,975
2012 modern 693 #7,663
2013 modern 695 #7,763
2014 modern 690 #7,872
2015 modern 673 #7,965
2016 modern 671 #7,978

Geography

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Where Willisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitby, London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Govan Combination and Hendon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Scarborough, Gateshead and South Lakeland. 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 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
2 London parishes London 1
3 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Hendon Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 021 Huntingdonshire
2 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
3 Gateshead 003 Gateshead
4 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland
5 Scarborough 004 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willison

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Willison 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

Willison is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Willison falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Willison

The surname Willison originates from Scotland and England, where it emerged in the medieval period. It is derived from the ancient personal name William, which itself comes from the Germanic elements "wil," meaning will or desire, and "helm," meaning protection or helmet. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname was Willieson in Scotland in the year 1296.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John Willison, a Scottish Presbyterian minister who lived from 1680 to 1750. He is best known for his influential book "The Afflicted Man's Companion," published in 1742, which provided spiritual guidance for those suffering from illness or affliction.

Another notable Willison was Samuel Willison, a Scottish merchant and ship owner who lived from 1753 to 1828. He was involved in the early trade between Scotland and the West Indies, and his success in business allowed him to purchase the estate of Willison House in Fife, Scotland.

In England, the surname Willison can be traced back to the 14th century, with records showing a John Willison in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379. The name was particularly concentrated in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Northumberland, where it may have originated as a variant of the more common surname Wilson.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name in England was Sir Thomas Willison, a prominent lawyer and judge who lived from 1555 to 1619. He served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and was knighted by King James I in 1603.

Another notable Willison was Robert Willison, an English botanist and horticulturist who lived from 1696 to 1761. He is best known for his work on the botany of the West Indies, where he traveled extensively and collected many plant specimens.

While the surname Willison is not as common as some other surnames, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and multiple countries. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period and the ancient personal name William, which has been a popular name throughout much of European history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Willison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willison 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 89 Willisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.46x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 89 1.46x
Middlesex 81 1.32x
Bedfordshire 61 19.17x
Lanarkshire 53 2.67x
Buckinghamshire 49 13.19x
Ayrshire 33 7.18x
Surrey 33 1.10x
Lancashire 24 0.33x
Essex 22 1.81x
Worcestershire 19 2.37x
Angus 13 2.28x
Warwickshire 13 0.84x
Westmorland 13 9.63x
Perthshire 12 4.35x
Durham 11 0.60x
Renfrewshire 11 2.31x
Sussex 10 0.97x
Kent 9 0.43x
Northamptonshire 7 1.21x
Dumfriesshire 6 4.42x
Hertfordshire 6 1.42x
Lincolnshire 6 0.61x
Peeblesshire 6 20.75x
Roxburghshire 6 5.39x
Clackmannanshire 4 7.88x
Derbyshire 4 0.42x
Hampshire 4 0.32x
Midlothian 4 0.49x
Northumberland 4 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.36x
Stirlingshire 3 1.32x
Berkshire 2 0.43x
Fife 2 0.55x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.18x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.82x
Kincardineshire 1 1.34x
Orkney 1 1.48x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 30 Willisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.10x.

Place Total Index
Govan 30 6.10x
Chalgrave 22 1195.65x
Islington London 21 3.53x
Whitby 21 102.34x
Kings Norton 18 25.01x
Prestwich 14 76.97x
Mauchline 13 245.75x
St Marylebone London 13 3.96x
St Pancras London 13 2.63x
Aston 12 2.81x
Dundee 11 5.18x
Streatham 11 24.12x
Barony 10 1.99x
Bedford St Mary 9 109.76x
Dalry 9 41.59x
Ruswarp 9 132.94x
Underbarrow Bradley 9 918.37x
Atwick 8 1194.03x
Braintree 8 73.46x
Drayton Parslow 8 800.00x
Haswell 8 61.07x
Abbey 7 9.63x
Great Horwood 7 466.67x
Hempstead 7 526.32x
Killin 7 260.22x
Toddington 7 153.51x
Wakefield 7 14.97x
Bedford St John 6 1250.00x
Bow Brickhill 6 618.56x
Clophill 6 257.51x
Eston 6 45.25x
Hawick 6 24.09x
Innerleithen 6 78.23x
Kilmarnock 6 10.96x
Newington 6 2.64x
Sanquhar 6 125.79x
Walthamstow 6 13.74x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.87x
Bletchley 5 462.96x
Cosgrove 5 373.13x
Dartford 5 23.32x
Glasgow 5 1.42x
Holy Trinity 5 3.41x
Longforgan 5 128.21x
Shenley 5 179.21x
St George Hanover 5 6.23x
St Luke London 5 5.07x
Wonersh 5 133.69x
Alloa 4 16.25x
Aspley Guise 4 131.15x
Banstead 4 49.32x
Bradford 4 2.71x
Calverton 4 344.83x
Derby St Peter 4 13.05x
Douglas 4 69.81x
Edlesborough 4 118.34x
Hockliffe 4 579.71x
Kensington London 4 1.17x
Newton Longville 4 404.04x
Skipsea 4 476.19x
Spittlegate 4 29.43x
York St Lawrence 4 62.99x
Aylesbury 3 18.23x
Carlton In Barnsley 3 131.58x
Fylingdales 3 98.68x
Hastings St Mary 3 11.63x
Hendon 3 13.57x
Mile End Old Town 3 3.09x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.40x
St Peter Colebrook 3 169.49x
Stirling 3 10.50x
Stony Stratford East 3 196.08x
Water Eaton 3 576.92x
West Grinstead 3 96.15x
York St Mary Castlegate 3 167.60x
Hackney London 2 0.58x
Kew 2 114.94x
Lambeth 2 0.37x
Newington 2 11.93x
Newport Pagnell 2 25.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Sarah 21
Jane 15
Ann 14
Elizabeth 13
Emma 8
Alice 7
Annie 7
Emily 6
Martha 6
Eliza 5
Ada 4
Ellen 4
Florence 4
Isabella 4
Bertha 3
Charlotte 3
Frances 3
Minnie 3
Rose 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
H. 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Lizzie 2
Margaret 2
May 2
Adalade 1
Allice 1
Alma 1
Annette 1
Diana 1
Dudley 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Ella 1
Fanny 1
Harriott 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Jemmie 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Tryphena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 19
Joseph 19
James 17
Thomas 17
George 12
Arthur 11
Robert 11
Frederick 10
Henry 8
Walter 7
Charles 6
Alfred 5
Harry 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Herbert 3
Matthew 3
Bertie 2
Edward 2
Fredrick 2
J. 2
Mathew 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Alpheus 1
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Beadle 1
Bobert 1
Cole 1
Coles 1
Denis 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Ezra 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Josiah 1
Lacon 1
Leonard 1
Philip 1
Robt. 1
Rowland 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
T. 1
Wesley 1

FAQ

Willison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 637 people were recorded with the Willison surname. That placed it at #5,577 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 671 in 2016. That gives Willison a modern rank of #7,978.

What does the Willison surname mean?

Son of William, an English patronymic surname derived from the popular medieval given name William.

What does the Willison map show?

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