NameCensus.

UK surname

Willsmer

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Willsmer surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Southminster, Mayland, Steeple, London parishes and Althorne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochford, Shropshire and Havering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willsmer is 139 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.5%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

78

2016, ranked #33,171

Peak year

1911

139 bearers

Map years

2

1911 to 1998

Key insights

  • Willsmer had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016, ranked #33,171.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 139 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Willsmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willsmer surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willsmer 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 36 #26,838
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 74 #25,958
1911 historical 139 #18,745
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 102 #27,314
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 85 #30,132
2005 modern 84 #30,359
2006 modern 81 #31,044
2007 modern 83 #31,183
2008 modern 82 #31,597
2009 modern 84 #31,842
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 85 #32,127
2012 modern 82 #32,701
2013 modern 81 #32,996
2014 modern 81 #33,061
2015 modern 77 #33,272
2016 modern 78 #33,171

Geography

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Where Willsmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Southminster, Mayland, Steeple, London parishes, Althorne and Tillingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochford, Shropshire, Havering and Chelmsford. 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 Southminster, Mayland, Steeple Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Althorne Essex
4 Tillingham Essex
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochford 010 Rochford
2 Shropshire 003 Shropshire
3 Havering 015 Havering
4 Chelmsford 013 Chelmsford
5 Shropshire 007 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willsmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willsmer

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Willsmer is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Willsmer is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Willsmer falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Willsmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willsmer 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. Essex leads with 38 Willsmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.13x.

County Total Index
Essex 38 41.13x
Middlesex 5 1.07x
Kent 3 1.88x
Surrey 2 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tillingham in Essex leads with 9 Willsmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5625.00x.

Place Total Index
Tillingham 9 5625.00x
Althorne 8 16000.00x
Kelvedon 5 2000.00x
Poplar London 5 56.63x
Goldhanger 4 5000.00x
Peldon 4 5714.29x
Maidstone 3 63.03x
Bradwell 2 1250.00x
Guildford Holy Trinity 2 465.12x
Walthamstow 2 60.06x
Barking 1 37.04x
Brentwood 1 178.57x
Dengie 1 2000.00x
Leyton 1 62.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Julia 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Jane 1
Lavina 1
Lizzey 1
Nelly 1
Rossames 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Willsmer households.

FAQ

Willsmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willsmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Willsmer surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willsmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Willsmer a modern rank of #33,171.

What does the Willsmer map show?

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