NameCensus.

UK surname

Willows

A surname referring to someone who lived near or worked with willow trees.

In the 1881 census there were 655 people recorded with the Willows surname, ranking it #5,471 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 853, ranked #6,562, down from #5,471 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes and Foston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, South Holland and Ashfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willows is 875 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.2%.

1881 census count

655

Ranked #5,471

Modern count

853

2016, ranked #6,562

Peak year

2013

875 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willows had 655 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,471 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 853 in 2016, ranked #6,562.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 841 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Willows surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willows surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willows 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 412 #5,889
1861 historical 341 #7,479
1881 historical 655 #5,471
1891 historical 659 #5,897
1901 historical 734 #6,034
1911 historical 841 #5,271
1997 modern 818 #6,423
1998 modern 841 #6,491
1999 modern 853 #6,464
2000 modern 868 #6,347
2001 modern 844 #6,373
2002 modern 869 #6,360
2003 modern 833 #6,440
2004 modern 836 #6,427
2005 modern 827 #6,432
2006 modern 826 #6,458
2007 modern 802 #6,667
2008 modern 816 #6,629
2009 modern 822 #6,726
2010 modern 847 #6,713
2011 modern 835 #6,705
2012 modern 853 #6,513
2013 modern 875 #6,490
2014 modern 867 #6,557
2015 modern 857 #6,559
2016 modern 853 #6,562

Geography

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Where Willows' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes, Foston, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, South Holland, Ashfield, Bassetlaw and North Kesteven. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Foston Nottinghamshire
4 Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton Nottinghamshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 004 Newark and Sherwood
2 South Holland 008 South Holland
3 Ashfield 007 Ashfield
4 Bassetlaw 002 Bassetlaw
5 North Kesteven 007 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willows

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willows

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Willows surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Willows household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Willows is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Willows 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

Willows 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 Willows is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Willows, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Willows

The surname Willows has its roots in England, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is toponymic in nature, derived from a recognizable feature of the landscape. Specifically, it traces back to the Old English words "wilig" or "welig," which mean "willow tree." The willow tree has long been a distinct and significant feature in English rural landscapes, often growing near water sources like rivers and streams.

The surname Willows is primarily believed to have originated from regions in England where willow trees were abundant and became a descriptive identifier for people living near such locations. Early records suggest that the name might have initially been used to describe individuals who lived by or worked with willow trees, a common resource used in basket-weaving, fencing, and other crafts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of England and parts of Wales ordered by William the Conqueror. Variations of the surname, such as Willwe, Wilwe, and Willowes, appear in historical documents dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, reflecting the phonetic and orthographic variability of the period.

A notable figure bearing the surname in the early historical records is John Willows, a landowner documented in the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire. Another early example includes Richard de Willowes, listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax records of 1379, indicating that the surname had spread to different counties by that time.

Over the centuries, the surname Willows saw gradual shifts in spelling and form, but it generally maintained its association with the landscape feature from which it was derived. For instance, Margaret Willowes was mentioned in the Devon Subsidy Rolls of 1524, and Thomas Willows appeared in London ecclesiastical records from the 17th century.

Among the more distinguished bearers of the surname in history is Edward Willows, a noted naval officer born in 1760, who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was recognized for his bravery at the Battle of Trafalgar. Another notable individual is Sarah Willows, an early 19th-century poet known for her evocative nature-themed verses. The surname’s enduring nature has seen it retained through generations, maintaining its historical roots in various parts of England.

Through its etymological lineage and notable historical mentions, the surname Willows stands as a testament to the lasting connection between individuals and the natural environment that shaped their identities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Willows families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willows 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. Lincolnshire leads with 325 Willows' recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.77x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 325 31.77x
Yorkshire 71 1.12x
Nottinghamshire 52 6.03x
Middlesex 34 0.53x
Lancashire 32 0.42x
Surrey 23 0.74x
Cambridgeshire 22 5.43x
Huntingdonshire 15 11.81x
Cheshire 11 0.78x
Leicestershire 11 1.55x
Northamptonshire 10 1.66x
Derbyshire 8 0.80x
Glamorgan 7 0.63x
Gloucestershire 7 0.56x
Warwickshire 7 0.43x
Kent 6 0.27x
Suffolk 5 0.64x
Staffordshire 4 0.19x
Hertfordshire 2 0.45x
Essex 1 0.08x
Norfolk 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.31x
Somerset 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 22 Willows' recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.88x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 22 33.88x
Foston 17 2179.49x
Kimbolton 14 522.39x
Openshaw 13 36.56x
Spittlegate 13 91.87x
Conisholme 11 3666.67x
New Malton 11 145.12x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 10 694.44x
Goxhill 10 396.83x
Hogsthorpe 10 632.91x
Wellingore 10 578.03x
Chapel Allerton 9 94.84x
Colsterworth 9 416.67x
Grimoldby 9 1125.00x
St Maryle Wigford 9 113.21x
Brightside Bierlow 8 6.43x
Coningsby 8 272.11x
Girton 8 2424.24x
Rushton 8 740.74x
St Mark Lincoln 8 366.97x
Arnold 7 55.60x
Coton 7 985.92x
Dry Doddington 7 1428.57x
Leicester St Margaret 7 4.05x
Marston 7 1044.78x
Nettleton 7 660.38x
Scaftworth 7 3043.48x
Sheffield 7 3.47x
Southwark St John 7 35.77x
St Peterin Eastgate 7 220.82x
Sutton St Mary 7 72.39x
Tealby 7 489.51x
Chatham 6 9.99x
East Stockwith 6 845.07x
Godalming 6 30.57x
Grainthorpe 6 389.61x
Kensington London 6 1.69x
Market Rasen 6 104.90x
Scothern 6 555.56x
Sixhills 6 1578.95x
St Marylebone London 6 1.76x
Aubourn 5 1063.83x
Glanford Brigg 5 136.99x
Gorton 5 7.00x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 22.89x
Mablethorpe 5 357.14x
Mansfield 5 16.75x
Molescroft 5 1282.05x
Newton 5 8.54x
Newton Nottage 5 163.40x
Ropsley 5 352.11x
Tupholme 5 2380.95x
Tupton 5 166.11x
Billinghay 4 126.98x
Canwick 4 740.74x
Cirencester 4 23.54x
Croydon 4 2.31x
Eastville 4 506.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 3.10x
Edmonton 4 7.76x
Friern Barnet 4 28.37x
Grendon 4 289.86x
Heeley 4 20.76x
Leeds 4 1.12x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.79x
Oakington 4 336.13x
Spilsby 4 123.08x
Spridlington 4 625.00x
Swallow 4 769.23x
Wisbech St Peter 4 19.69x
Anderby 3 491.80x
Balderton 3 127.12x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.08x
East Ravendale 3 1250.00x
Holy Trinity St Mary 3 31.09x
Potter Hanworth 3 315.79x
St Botolph Lincoln 3 40.76x
St Nicholas Lincoln 3 30.67x
Tydd St Mary 3 147.78x
Winthorpe 3 535.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 48
William 39
George 32
Thomas 22
Charles 16
Richard 14
Robert 13
Henry 11
Edward 10
Frederick 10
James 10
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Herbert 7
Joseph 6
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Green 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Geo. 3
Harry 3
Philip 3
Samuel 3
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Aurther 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dawson 1
Edric 1
Edwd. 1
Frank 1
Frd. 1
Frederic 1
Freeman 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Grean 1
Jeffery 1
Jessie 1
Jim 1
Jno 1
Laws 1
Mathew 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Raymond 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Willows surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willows surname in 1881?

In 1881, 655 people were recorded with the Willows surname. That placed it at #5,471 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willows surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 853 in 2016. That gives Willows a modern rank of #6,562.

What does the Willows surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who lived near or worked with willow trees.

What does the Willows map show?

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