NameCensus.

UK surname

Willocks

An Anglo-Scottish surname derived from the pet form "Will" and the diminutive suffix "-ock".

In the 1881 census there were 166 people recorded with the Willocks surname, ranking it #14,496 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 180, ranked #21,022, down from #14,496 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Marykirk, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Wilmslow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willocks is 219 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.4%.

1881 census count

166

Ranked #14,496

Modern count

180

2016, ranked #21,022

Peak year

1998

219 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willocks had 166 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,496 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016, ranked #21,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 218 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Willocks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willocks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willocks 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 150 #12,905
1861 historical 183 #12,903
1881 historical 166 #14,496
1891 historical 218 #14,023
1901 historical 190 #15,634
1911 historical 124 #20,023
1997 modern 189 #18,267
1998 modern 219 #17,115
1999 modern 219 #17,203
2000 modern 198 #18,330
2001 modern 182 #19,039
2002 modern 191 #18,817
2003 modern 181 #19,277
2004 modern 183 #19,251
2005 modern 184 #19,117
2006 modern 185 #19,204
2007 modern 187 #19,271
2008 modern 193 #19,077
2009 modern 190 #19,656
2010 modern 195 #19,762
2011 modern 193 #19,729
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 185 #20,641
2016 modern 180 #21,022

Geography

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Where Willocks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Marykirk, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Wilmslow, Glenbervie and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area, High Peak, Tameside and Alloa South and East. 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 Marykirk Kincardine
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Wilmslow Cheshire
4 Glenbervie Kincardine
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 018 Brent
2 Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area Scottish Borders
3 High Peak 001 High Peak
4 Tameside 027 Tameside
5 Alloa South and East Clackmannanshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willocks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willocks

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Willocks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Willocks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Willocks 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

Willocks 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

Willocks falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Willocks

The surname Willocks has its origins in Scotland, with early records indicating its presence in the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the older name "Willox," which in turn may have its roots in the Old English personal name Wiloc or Wilocca. These personal names were diminutive forms of the name William, itself of Germanic origin, meaning "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior."

The etymological history of the surname Willocks can also be connected to variations in spelling across historical documents. In early Scottish records, the name often appeared as Willox or Willocks, and there is evidence that some forms of the name existed in various parts of the Lowlands. The earliest recorded examples of the name date back to the 14th century, with mentions in legal documents and parochial records.

One of the earliest notable figures with this surname was Thomas Willox, a landowner in the region of Ayrshire, documented in property records from the early 1400s. Another historical reference is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a John Willox is listed as a tenant farmer during the late 15th century. The variations in the spelling of the name during this period reflect the lack of standardization in early record-keeping.

By the 16th century, the name Willocks gained prominence through William Willocks, a Scottish theologian and preacher born in 1550. He was known for his role in the Reformation movement, advocating religious change and playing a significant part in the establishment of Protestant churches in his region. William Willocks' contributions to theological debates of his time are documented in various ecclesiastical records.

In the 17th century, Robert Willocks, born in 1623, became a notable figure as a soldier during the English Civil War. He served the Royalist cause, underlining the diverse roles individuals with the surname have played in history. Robert's military service is recorded in muster rolls and military correspondences of the era, providing a glimpse into the turbulent times and the involvement of the Willocks family.

One of the more recent historical figures is James Willocks, born in 1795, who became known for his involvement in the early industrialization efforts in Scotland. As an engineer and inventor, James Willocks made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and machinery, with his work being cited in 19th-century engineering journals and patent records. His legacy in the field of engineering reflects the intellectual and creative pursuits associated with the Willocks name.

The history of the surname Willocks is rich and varied, crossing multiple centuries and encompassing various roles in society, from landowners and theologians to soldiers and engineers. This illustrates the diverse contributions individuals with this surname have made to their respective fields and the historical narrative of Scotland and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Willocks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willocks 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. Angus leads with 85 Willocks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.66x.

County Total Index
Angus 85 56.66x
Lancashire 16 0.83x
Kincardineshire 15 76.06x
Cheshire 10 2.80x
Staffordshire 10 1.83x
Middlesex 8 0.49x
Dunbartonshire 3 6.89x
Lanarkshire 3 0.57x
Kent 2 0.36x
Midlothian 2 0.92x
Perthshire 2 2.75x
Renfrewshire 2 1.59x
Yorkshire 2 0.12x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.67x
Cornwall 1 0.55x
Fife 1 1.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.46x
Oxfordshire 1 1.00x
Surrey 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. Brechin in Angus leads with 31 Willocks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 525.42x.

Place Total Index
Brechin 31 525.42x
Arbirlot 9 1956.52x
St Vigeans 9 111.11x
Montrose 8 88.01x
Dundee 7 12.50x
Barrow In Furness 6 22.96x
Hackney London 6 6.61x
Marykirk 6 740.74x
West Bromwich 6 19.18x
Aberlemno 5 909.09x
Arbroath 5 100.60x
Ashton 5 2272.73x
Glenbervie 5 925.93x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 9.52x
Wolverhampton 4 9.52x
Liverpool 3 2.57x
Roseneath 3 361.45x
Bervie 2 170.94x
Cathcart 2 29.46x
Cheadle 2 29.28x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 2.29x
Handforth 2 487.80x
Logie Pert 2 363.64x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 3.19x
Abroath St Vigeans 1 161.29x
Anstruther Easter 1 144.93x
Auchtergaven 1 81.97x
Barony 1 0.75x
Croydon 1 2.28x
Dun 1 333.33x
East Looe 1 135.14x
Edzell 1 217.39x
Ewell Lydden 1 232.56x
Farnell 1 294.12x
Fetteresso 1 32.36x
Fordoun 1 90.91x
Govan 1 0.77x
Greenwich 1 3.88x
Halifax 1 4.24x
Hamilton 1 6.84x
Inverkeillor 1 107.53x
Kensington London 1 1.11x
Leeds 1 1.10x
Lunan 1 769.23x
Maryton 1 454.55x
Menmuir 1 238.10x
Newark Upon Trent 1 12.74x
Newton 1 6.75x
Paddington London 1 1.68x
Panbride 1 128.21x
Pownall Fee 1 62.50x
Preston 1 1.95x
Redgorton 1 123.46x
Sarsden 1 1111.11x
West Derby 1 1.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Clara 2
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Jessie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Lenie 1
Margaret 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
John 4
Charles 3
George 3
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Alfred 1
Henry 1
Noah 1
Robert 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Willocks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willocks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 166 people were recorded with the Willocks surname. That placed it at #14,496 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willocks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016. That gives Willocks a modern rank of #21,022.

What does the Willocks surname mean?

An Anglo-Scottish surname derived from the pet form "Will" and the diminutive suffix "-ock".

What does the Willocks map show?

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