NameCensus.

UK surname

Willson

The son of William or Will, derived from a patronymic surname.

In the 1881 census there were 3,372 people recorded with the Willson surname, ranking it #1,351 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,951, ranked #2,284, down from #1,351 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Chichester and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willson is 4,350 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.5%.

1881 census count

3,372

Ranked #1,351

Modern count

2,951

2016, ranked #2,284

Peak year

1851

4,350 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willson had 3,372 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,351 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,951 in 2016, ranked #2,284.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,350 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Willson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Willson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willson 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 4,350 #650
1861 historical 3,448 #822
1881 historical 3,372 #1,351
1891 historical 2,743 #1,720
1901 historical 3,179 #1,767
1911 historical 3,606 #1,449
1997 modern 2,957 #2,193
1998 modern 3,071 #2,187
1999 modern 3,094 #2,190
2000 modern 3,052 #2,204
2001 modern 2,976 #2,216
2002 modern 3,050 #2,209
2003 modern 2,976 #2,210
2004 modern 2,973 #2,207
2005 modern 2,917 #2,218
2006 modern 2,891 #2,242
2007 modern 2,846 #2,304
2008 modern 2,873 #2,306
2009 modern 2,924 #2,313
2010 modern 2,992 #2,308
2011 modern 2,968 #2,299
2012 modern 2,920 #2,292
2013 modern 2,983 #2,287
2014 modern 2,998 #2,290
2015 modern 2,950 #2,295
2016 modern 2,951 #2,284

Geography

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Where Willsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Chichester, Dover and Cornwall. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 009 South Holland
2 South Holland 006 South Holland
3 Chichester 013 Chichester
4 Dover 011 Dover
5 Cornwall 033 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willson

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

London Fringe

Within London, Willson 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

Willson 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

Willson 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 Willson 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 Willson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Willson

The Willson surname finds its origin in England, tracing back to the early medieval period. It derives from the personal name Will, a diminutive of William, combined with the patronymic suffix "-son," meaning "son of." This construction was common in English naming practices, indicating lineage and family ties.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Willson name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a certain Willelmus filius Willelmi (William, son of William) is mentioned. This entry suggests the surname's usage as a hereditary name during the 12th century.

Throughout the centuries, the Willson surname underwent various spelling variations, including Willson, Wilson, Wyllson, and Wilsone, reflecting the inconsistent nature of English orthography in earlier times. Many of these variations can be found in historical records, such as parish registers and tax rolls.

Notable individuals bearing the Willson surname include Sir Thomas Willson (1555-1629), an English naval commander who served under Sir Francis Drake and later became the Governor of the East India Company's factory in Surat, India. Another prominent figure was Edward Willson (1838-1899), an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Physicians.

In Scotland, the Willson name has roots in the village of Wilston, located in Renfrewshire. This connection is exemplified by Sir Robert Willson (1612-1688), a Scottish merchant and landowner who acquired the estate of Muirhouses in East Lothian.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded Willsons in America was Reverend John Willson (1588-1676), an English clergyman who emigrated to Massachusetts in 1635 and became the first minister of Boston's First Church.

Other notable individuals with the Willson surname include James Willson (1763-1821), an American politician and judge who served as the 21st Governor of Virginia, and Sir James Willson Perovne (1817-1894), an English judge and legal writer who served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

While the Willson surname may have originated from humble beginnings, its bearers have left their mark across various fields, from military and politics to architecture and literature, reflecting the diverse tapestry of human endeavors throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Willson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willson 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. Middlesex leads with 549 Willsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.67x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 549 1.67x
Lincolnshire 431 8.22x
Kent 391 3.50x
Surrey 255 1.60x
Cambridgeshire 227 10.93x
Leicestershire 207 5.70x
Yorkshire 133 0.41x
Lancashire 117 0.30x
Warwickshire 116 1.40x
Northamptonshire 83 2.69x
Essex 78 1.21x
Hertfordshire 72 3.19x
Durham 67 0.69x
Nottinghamshire 58 1.31x
Sussex 50 0.90x
Huntingdonshire 42 6.45x
Bedfordshire 41 2.42x
Norfolk 39 0.77x
Devon 35 0.51x
Hampshire 35 0.52x
Staffordshire 35 0.32x
Oxfordshire 28 1.38x
Lanarkshire 27 0.25x
Suffolk 25 0.63x
Cheshire 17 0.24x
Renfrewshire 17 0.67x
Berkshire 15 0.61x
Derbyshire 15 0.29x
Midlothian 15 0.34x
Angus 13 0.43x
Worcestershire 12 0.28x
Gloucestershire 11 0.17x
Rutland 11 4.57x
West Lothian 11 2.23x
Cumberland 8 0.28x
Glamorgan 8 0.14x
Stirlingshire 6 0.50x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.25x
Cornwall 5 0.13x
Northumberland 5 0.10x
Wiltshire 5 0.17x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.29x
Denbighshire 4 0.32x
Isle of Man 4 0.66x
Monmouthshire 4 0.17x
Dorset 3 0.14x
Royal Navy 3 0.77x
Fife 2 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.19x
Shropshire 2 0.07x
Somerset 2 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.03x
Argyllshire 1 0.11x
Brecknockshire 1 0.15x
Cardiganshire 1 0.13x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.37x
Flintshire 1 0.11x
Perthshire 1 0.07x
Radnorshire 1 0.38x
Roxburghshire 1 0.17x
Westmorland 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 90 Willsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.15x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 90 3.15x
Leicester St Margaret 85 9.59x
Hackney London 59 3.21x
Islington London 55 1.73x
Chatham 51 16.58x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 51 56.33x
St Pancras London 49 1.86x
Deptford St Paul 45 5.22x
Shoreditch London 42 2.96x
Aston 36 1.58x
Spalding 35 33.65x
Greasley 33 33.11x
Limehouse London 30 8.34x
St George In East 28 12.56x
Camberwell 27 1.29x
Barton In Clay 26 218.12x
Bromley London 25 3.47x
Rotherhithe 25 6.17x
Histon 23 211.40x
Mile End Old Town 23 4.45x
Watford 23 13.13x
Birmingham 22 0.80x
Brighton 22 1.97x
Sheepshed 22 44.18x
St Marylebone London 22 1.26x
Clerkenwell London 21 2.71x
Skirbeck Quarter 21 219.21x
Newington 20 1.65x
Kensington London 19 1.04x
Milton In Milton 19 39.97x
Moulton 19 75.34x
Poplar London 19 3.07x
Ramsgate 19 10.41x
Blackburn 18 1.74x
Hatfield 18 39.30x
Strood 18 28.22x
Horncastle 17 31.43x
Martin In Sleaford 17 185.19x
Shorne 17 171.72x
Great Yarmouth 16 3.83x
Sculcoates 16 3.11x
Sutton St Mary St James 16 259.32x
Haslingfield 15 177.31x
Acton 14 7.29x
Bethnal Green London 14 0.98x
Folkestone 14 6.45x
Huttoft 14 208.33x
Leamington Priors 14 6.88x
West Ham 14 0.98x
Bourn 13 142.70x
Dover St Mary Virgin 13 12.01x
Lewisham 13 2.18x
Pendleton In Salford 13 2.81x
Portsea 13 0.99x
St George Hanover 13 3.04x
Trusthorpe 13 346.67x
Arthingworth 12 576.92x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 1.41x
Hogsthorpe 12 147.97x
Leicester St Mary 12 4.09x
Oakington 12 196.40x
Southwark St George Martyr 12 1.82x
Warwick St Mary 12 16.72x
Barnes 11 16.29x
Bermondsey 11 1.13x
Cherry Hinton 11 112.70x
Edgbaston 11 4.29x
Greenwich 11 2.11x
Kimbolton 11 80.23x
Kirton Simon Weir 11 205.99x
Littleport 11 27.74x
St Andrewthe Less 11 4.64x
St Gilesin Fields 11 57.59x
Torphichen 11 63.99x
Abbey 10 2.58x
Bromley 10 5.87x
Carlton 10 19.84x
Chelsea London 10 1.01x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 10 26.99x
Sittingbourne 10 11.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 178
Elizabeth 118
Sarah 95
Ann 67
Alice 64
Eliza 54
Annie 52
Emma 52
Jane 50
Emily 44
Ellen 43
Florence 32
Louisa 30
Ada 26
Martha 26
Charlotte 24
Margaret 22
Edith 20
Fanny 20
Maria 19
Kate 18
Caroline 16
Catherine 16
Hannah 16
Frances 15
Rose 15
Harriet 14
Lucy 14
Rebecca 14
Harriett 13
Clara 12
Amelia 11
Amy 11
Elizth. 11
Agnes 10
Esther 10
Sophia 10
Anne 9
Julia 9
Susan 9
Lizzie 8
Susannah 8
Eleanor 7
Ethel 7
Gertrude 7
Jessie 7
Minnie 7
Lydia 6
Isabella 5
Lilly 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 220
John 192
George 137
Thomas 104
James 86
Henry 85
Charles 68
Edward 58
Alfred 49
Joseph 49
Robert 42
Arthur 32
Walter 30
Frederick 29
Richard 29
Albert 26
Ernest 24
Samuel 24
Harry 16
Herbert 16
Christopher 11
Edwin 11
Francis 11
Stephen 11
David 10
Edmund 10
Frank 10
Fredrick 10
Thos. 7
Benjamin 6
Daniel 6
Fred 5
Isaac 5
Matthew 5
Percy 5
Wm. 5
Bertie 4
Jonathan 4
Sidney 4
Cecil 3
Howard 3
Jabez 3
Jacob 3
Mark 3
Ralph 3
Tom 3
Willm. 3
Nat 2
Oliver 2
Peter 2

FAQ

Willson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,372 people were recorded with the Willson surname. That placed it at #1,351 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,951 in 2016. That gives Willson a modern rank of #2,284.

What does the Willson surname mean?

The son of William or Will, derived from a patronymic surname.

What does the Willson map show?

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