NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilmore

Derived from a place name meaning "lake by a spring" or "spring by a bog" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 375 people recorded with the Wilmore surname, ranking it #8,345 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 293, ranked #14,981, down from #8,345 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winslow, Cadney, Newstead and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Rossendale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilmore is 483 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.9%.

1881 census count

375

Ranked #8,345

Modern count

293

2016, ranked #14,981

Peak year

1901

483 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilmore had 375 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,345 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016, ranked #14,981.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 483 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wilmore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilmore surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilmore 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 259 #8,550
1861 historical 249 #9,904
1881 historical 375 #8,345
1891 historical 438 #8,234
1901 historical 483 #8,256
1911 historical 383 #9,597
1997 modern 295 #13,680
1998 modern 299 #13,908
1999 modern 295 #14,108
2000 modern 299 #13,937
2001 modern 286 #14,160
2002 modern 293 #14,203
2003 modern 286 #14,259
2004 modern 299 #13,904
2005 modern 298 #13,895
2006 modern 295 #14,053
2007 modern 293 #14,272
2008 modern 288 #14,537
2009 modern 295 #14,594
2010 modern 300 #14,730
2011 modern 288 #15,009
2012 modern 287 #14,978
2013 modern 311 #14,368
2014 modern 308 #14,571
2015 modern 295 #14,935
2016 modern 293 #14,981

Geography

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Where Wilmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winslow, Cadney, Newstead, London parishes and Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Rossendale, Blackpool and North Lincolnshire. 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 Winslow Buckinghamshire
2 Cadney, Newstead Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth Leicestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 012 Pendle
2 Newcastle-under-Lyme 010 Newcastle-under-Lyme
3 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
4 Blackpool 007 Blackpool
5 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilmore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilmore

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Wilmore is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wilmore is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Wilmore

The surname Wilmore has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from the place name Willmoor or Wilmoor, which referred to a settlement located on or near a moor or marshy area.

The name is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "willa" or "will," meaning willow, and "mor," meaning moor or marsh. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived in an area characterized by willow trees and marshy terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wilmore can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the late 12th century, where it appears as "de Wilmor." This indicates that the name was in use by that time and likely originated in the region of Staffordshire.

In the 13th century, the name is documented in various forms, such as "Willemor," "Willemora," and "Wylmor," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in medieval times.

Notable individuals with the surname Wilmore include:

1. Sir Robert Wilmore (c. 1585-1643), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. 2. John Wilmore (c. 1610-1672), an English clergyman and Puritan divine who served as the Rector of Ringwood in Hampshire. 3. Elizabeth Wilmore (1696-1773), a prominent Quaker minister and author from Pennsylvania, known for her spiritual writings and travels. 4. William Wilmore (1749-1823), an English sculptor and engraver who worked in London and was celebrated for his portrait busts and monuments. 5. James Wilmore (1821-1896), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded Wilmore, Kentucky, and helped establish Asbury College (now Asbury University) in the town.

The name Wilmore has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Wilmore Green in Hertfordshire and Wilmore Hill in Herefordshire, further reinforcing its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilmore 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. Lancashire leads with 112 Wilmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.58x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 112 2.58x
Lincolnshire 40 6.84x
Middlesex 40 1.09x
Worcestershire 33 6.91x
Buckinghamshire 24 10.85x
Surrey 21 1.18x
Kent 17 1.36x
Leicestershire 17 4.19x
Staffordshire 17 1.38x
Hertfordshire 12 4.76x
Bedfordshire 6 3.17x
Warwickshire 6 0.65x
Northumberland 5 0.92x
Gloucestershire 4 0.56x
Sussex 4 0.65x
Yorkshire 4 0.11x
Berkshire 2 0.73x
Durham 2 0.18x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Essex 1 0.14x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Herefordshire 1 0.67x
Midlothian 1 0.20x
Norfolk 1 0.18x
Northamptonshire 1 0.29x
Oxfordshire 1 0.44x
Shropshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Little Marsden in Lancashire leads with 38 Wilmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 191.15x.

Place Total Index
Great Little Marsden 38 191.15x
Higham With West Close 35 3723.40x
Winslow 24 1153.85x
Cadney 12 2142.86x
Liverpool 10 3.79x
Northchurch 10 371.75x
Lambeth 9 2.82x
Openshaw 8 39.35x
Shoreditch London 8 5.05x
Bilston 7 29.25x
Loose 7 382.51x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 5.35x
Worcester St Martin 7 108.70x
Colne 6 46.40x
Mile End Old Town 6 10.39x
Penge 6 25.67x
Quorndon 6 263.16x
St Pancras London 6 2.04x
Wrawby 6 379.75x
Elswick 5 11.51x
Feckenham 5 91.41x
Habergham Eaves 5 12.60x
Hibaldstow 5 500.00x
Leigh 5 86.21x
Mountsorrel 5 684.93x
Rochester St Margaret 5 37.99x
Whittington 5 1063.83x
Caistor 4 171.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 5.43x
Bedford St Paul 3 23.09x
Birmingham 3 0.98x
Cheltenham 3 5.42x
Claines 3 22.88x
Hornsey 3 6.49x
Kidderminster Borough 3 10.73x
Kirmington 3 576.92x
Limber Magna 3 491.80x
Old Stratford 3 57.47x
Padiham 3 28.60x
St George In East 3 12.06x
Woolwich 3 6.51x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.26x
Brighton 2 1.61x
Bromley London 2 2.49x
Burnley 2 5.47x
Castleton 2 4.61x
Chipping Barnet 2 45.35x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.32x
Enderby 2 95.24x
Kensington London 2 0.98x
Leighton Buzzard 2 24.54x
Maidstone 2 5.38x
Scawby 2 103.63x
Somerby In Caistor 2 1666.67x
Stockton On Tees 2 3.81x
Westminster St John 2 4.49x
White Ladies Aston 2 512.82x
Wolverhampton 2 2.11x
Aldershot 1 3.98x
Bromyard 1 50.51x
Burton Upon Trent 1 3.46x
Chester St Oswald 1 6.84x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 8.63x
Gloucester 1 400.00x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.15x
Hampstead London 1 1.76x
Healing 1 666.67x
Limehouse London 1 2.49x
Marton In Middlesbrough 1 75.76x
Mountsorrel South End 1 172.41x
New Windsor 1 10.83x
Oxted 1 46.51x
Preston 1 9.29x
Sculcoates 1 1.74x
Shifnal 1 11.66x
Shipton Under Wychwood 1 68.97x
South Shoebury 1 34.48x
Wellingborough 1 5.78x
Worcester St Helen 1 65.36x
Worcester St Nicholas 1 44.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 11
Ann 10
Alice 7
Maria 7
Emily 6
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Louisa 5
Anne 4
Edith 4
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Margaret 3
Rose 3
Ada 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Allice 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Blanch 1
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Christiana 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Daisey 1
E.L. 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Elsie 1
Gertrude 1
Isabel 1
Jannette 1
Jemima 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Malinda 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 16
George 15
James 15
Alfred 9
Charles 9
Joseph 9
Thomas 9
Albert 7
Henry 7
Richard 4
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Herbert 2
Hy. 2
Lawrence 2
Robert 2
Willm. 2
C. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Godfrey 1
Hadyn 1
Harrison 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Joe 1
Luther 1
Mhl. 1
Moses 1
Norman 1
Owen 1
Phillip 1
Ptolemecius 1
Richd. 1
Thos. 1
Vincent 1
Walker 1
Wallace 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wilmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 375 people were recorded with the Wilmore surname. That placed it at #8,345 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016. That gives Wilmore a modern rank of #14,981.

What does the Wilmore surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "lake by a spring" or "spring by a bog" in Old English.

What does the Wilmore map show?

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