NameCensus.

UK surname

Willmot

A surname originating from a medieval nickname meaning "resolute" or "determined".

In the 1881 census there were 441 people recorded with the Willmot surname, ranking it #7,422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 282, ranked #15,406, down from #7,422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Brighton and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Doncaster and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willmot is 484 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.1%.

1881 census count

441

Ranked #7,422

Modern count

282

2016, ranked #15,406

Peak year

1901

484 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willmot had 441 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016, ranked #15,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 484 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Willmot surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willmot surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willmot 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 468 #5,304
1861 historical 394 #6,504
1881 historical 441 #7,422
1891 historical 371 #9,405
1901 historical 484 #8,244
1911 historical 418 #9,006
1997 modern 301 #13,492
1998 modern 304 #13,773
1999 modern 311 #13,642
2000 modern 309 #13,651
2001 modern 303 #13,645
2002 modern 306 #13,835
2003 modern 303 #13,718
2004 modern 295 #14,025
2005 modern 287 #14,216
2006 modern 286 #14,322
2007 modern 295 #14,198
2008 modern 291 #14,430
2009 modern 290 #14,778
2010 modern 299 #14,769
2011 modern 287 #15,044
2012 modern 292 #14,770
2013 modern 303 #14,651
2014 modern 308 #14,571
2015 modern 296 #14,893
2016 modern 282 #15,406

Geography

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Where Willmots are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Brighton and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Doncaster, North East Derbyshire, The Vale of Glamorgan and Scarborough. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Brighton Sussex
4 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
2 Doncaster 005 Doncaster
3 North East Derbyshire 010 North East Derbyshire
4 The Vale of Glamorgan 013 Vale of Glamorgan
5 Scarborough 014 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willmot

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willmot

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Willmot, 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 Willmot surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Willmot 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Willmot is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Willmot is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Willmot falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Willmot

The surname Willmot has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. The name is particularly common in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset in southwestern England. It is derived from the given name "William," which itself comes from the Old Norman "Willelm" (a blend of "wil," meaning will or desire, and "helm," meaning helmet or protection). The suffix "mot" is believed to be a diminutive or affectionate form, essentially meaning "little William" or "son of William."

Historical references to the surname can be found in various records from the medieval period. One of the earliest mentions is in the Subsidy Rolls of Devon in 1332, where a John Willmot is recorded. The name appears in different spellings over time, including Wellmot and Wilmott, indicating its phonetic variations.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname include Richard Willmot, who was documented in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273. Another early mention is of Thomas Willmott in the Warwickshire Subsidy Rolls of 1327. These historical records highlight the spread and usage of the surname in different parts of England.

Among notable figures bearing the surname is Henry Willmot, born in 1530 and known for his role as a merchant and landowner in London. Elizabeth Willmot, born in 1565, was notable for her philanthropy and contributions to the church in Somerset. John Willmot, an artist born in 1675, gained prominence for his landscape paintings and had his works exhibited in several galleries in London during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the 19th century, James Willmot, born in 1810, gained recognition as an early industrialist, contributing to the development of the textile industry in Lancashire. Finally, Samuel Willmot, born in 1845 and a prominent educator, authored several influential textbooks on mathematics and science used in British schools.

The surname Willmot has a rich and varied history, reflecting the social and geographic mobility of the people who bore it. Its presence in historical records and among notable individuals provides insight into the cultural and social evolution of the regions where it was found.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Willmot families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willmot 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 44 Willmots recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.08x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 44 16.08x
Warwickshire 42 3.85x
Middlesex 36 0.83x
Somerset 36 5.18x
Derbyshire 28 4.14x
Surrey 26 1.23x
Sussex 22 3.02x
Lancashire 21 0.41x
Nottinghamshire 21 3.61x
Kent 20 1.36x
Lincolnshire 20 2.89x
Gloucestershire 18 2.12x
Devon 17 1.89x
Berkshire 15 4.62x
Yorkshire 13 0.30x
Northamptonshire 12 2.95x
Oxfordshire 10 3.75x
Essex 6 0.70x
Worcestershire 6 1.06x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.53x
Hampshire 4 0.45x
Norfolk 4 0.60x
Channel Islands 3 2.34x
Cheshire 2 0.21x
Cornwall 2 0.41x
Glamorgan 2 0.27x
Midlothian 2 0.35x
Wiltshire 2 0.52x
Bedfordshire 1 0.45x
Herefordshire 1 0.56x
Hertfordshire 1 0.34x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.17x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 24 Willmots recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.61x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 24 6.61x
Bassingbourn 17 422.89x
Brighton 16 10.89x
Harlton 14 3043.48x
Messingham 14 838.32x
Hulme 13 12.14x
Bitton Oldland 10 115.47x
Charlton Next Woolwich 10 65.02x
Crewkerne 10 135.32x
Aston 9 3.00x
Edgbaston 8 23.68x
Derby St Alkmund 7 34.52x
Finchampstead 7 714.29x
Barrow In Furness 6 8.60x
Camberwell 6 2.17x
Croydon 6 5.13x
Cuckfield 6 81.52x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 6 451.13x
Shirland 6 118.58x
Yardley 6 41.55x
Barlborough 5 200.00x
Basford 5 18.62x
Chard 5 59.31x
Clee With Weelsby 5 33.05x
Darley 5 183.15x
Greasley 5 38.05x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 5 168.35x
Hornsey 5 9.15x
Kingston On Thames 5 9.89x
Lambeth 5 1.33x
Nunney 5 331.13x
Oundle 5 110.13x
Plympton St Mary 5 96.15x
Sandhurst 5 79.62x
Westbury On Severn East 5 26.10x
Bowling 4 9.43x
Chelsea London 4 3.07x
Eccleshill 4 38.39x
Minster In Sheppey 4 16.37x
Nottingham St Nicholas 4 50.44x
Oxford St Ebbe 4 50.96x
Radford 4 13.52x
Rushden 4 73.53x
St Marylebone London 4 1.73x
St Pancras London 4 1.15x
Tottenham 4 5.81x
Walcot 4 10.80x
West Ham 4 2.12x
Wycombe 4 20.53x
Frome 3 18.03x
Manea 3 173.41x
Melbourne 3 64.94x
Peterborough 3 10.19x
Plymouth Charles The 3 7.57x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 4.33x
Rochester St Nicholas 3 65.36x
Shoreditch London 3 1.60x
St Peter Port 3 12.66x
Thatcham 3 60.00x
Brentwood 2 38.46x
Compton 2 487.80x
Doynton 2 338.98x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 17.78x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 2 16.75x
Lakenham 2 21.19x
Poplar London 2 2.45x
Rawmarsh 2 13.22x
Road 2 238.10x
St Luke London 2 2.89x
Weston Super Mare 2 11.39x
Bermondsey 1 0.78x
Broadhembury 1 100.00x
Clapton 1 344.83x
Falmouth 1 5.77x
Hemel Hempstead 1 7.45x
Kensington London 1 0.42x
Pewsey 1 35.59x
Thornton In Fylde 1 8.91x
Westminster St 1 6.28x
Ystradyfodwg 1 1.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 25
George 16
James 16
Charles 14
John 14
Thomas 13
Henry 12
Joseph 9
Robert 7
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Geo. 4
Herbert 4
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Abraham 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Eardley 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Wallace 2
Walter 2
Afred 1
Allen 1
Clement 1
Earnest 1
Edger 1
Edith 1
Ferdinand 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Geo.E. 1
J. 1
Job 1
Leonard 1
Martin 1
Morgan 1
Phillip 1
Saml. 1
Sml. 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Willmot surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willmot surname in 1881?

In 1881, 441 people were recorded with the Willmot surname. That placed it at #7,422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willmot surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016. That gives Willmot a modern rank of #15,406.

What does the Willmot surname mean?

A surname originating from a medieval nickname meaning "resolute" or "determined".

What does the Willmot map show?

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