NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilmot

Derived from a place name meaning "willow tree hill," from Old English elements wilig, meaning "willow," and mot, "hill."

In the 1881 census there were 2,003 people recorded with the Wilmot surname, ranking it #2,199 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,584, ranked #2,568, down from #2,199 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Derbyshire Dales and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilmot is 2,683 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.0%.

1881 census count

2,003

Ranked #2,199

Modern count

2,584

2016, ranked #2,568

Peak year

1999

2,683 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilmot had 2,003 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,199 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,584 in 2016, ranked #2,568.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,532 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wilmot surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilmot surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilmot 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 1,297 #2,208
1861 historical 1,184 #2,393
1881 historical 2,003 #2,199
1891 historical 2,095 #2,217
1901 historical 2,513 #2,183
1911 historical 2,532 #2,015
1997 modern 2,559 #2,477
1998 modern 2,654 #2,481
1999 modern 2,683 #2,477
2000 modern 2,658 #2,486
2001 modern 2,619 #2,473
2002 modern 2,632 #2,502
2003 modern 2,572 #2,499
2004 modern 2,590 #2,493
2005 modern 2,548 #2,502
2006 modern 2,533 #2,523
2007 modern 2,513 #2,555
2008 modern 2,525 #2,567
2009 modern 2,588 #2,564
2010 modern 2,652 #2,569
2011 modern 2,600 #2,582
2012 modern 2,586 #2,548
2013 modern 2,637 #2,547
2014 modern 2,656 #2,545
2015 modern 2,603 #2,559
2016 modern 2,584 #2,568

Geography

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Where Wilmots are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and Darley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Derbyshire Dales, West Lindsey and Old Shettleston and Parkhead North. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Darley Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
2 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales
3 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
4 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
5 Old Shettleston and Parkhead North Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilmot

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilmot

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wilmot 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

Wilmot is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wilmot falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wilmot

The surname Wilmot has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words "wille" and "mot," meaning "will" and "meeting" or "assembly." The surname likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who attended important gatherings or meetings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Willemot" and "Wilmet," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time.

During the 12th century, the Wilmot family emerged as prominent landowners and influential figures in the county of Warwickshire. Sir John Wilmot, born around 1150, was a notable member of the family who held lands in Chadshunt and served as a knight under King John.

The surname continued to gain prominence in the following centuries. Sir Nicholas Wilmot (1515-1571) was a prominent politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the High Sheriff of Warwickshire and played a crucial role in suppressing the Rising of the North, a rebellion against the Queen's religious policies.

In the 17th century, John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647-1680), gained notoriety as a poet, satirist, and courtier in the court of King Charles II. His bawdy and explicit works earned him both acclaim and controversy during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was Sir John Eardley Wilmot (1709-1792), a renowned English judge and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. He made significant contributions to the development of English common law and is remembered for his fair and impartial rulings.

The Wilmot family also had connections to place names in England. The village of Wilmcote in Warwickshire is believed to have derived its name from the Wilmot family, who held lands in the area during medieval times. Similarly, the hamlet of Wilmot in Devon may have been named after members of the Wilmot family who settled there.

Throughout history, the surname Wilmot has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, politicians, poets, and legal scholars. While the spelling has evolved over time, the name has maintained its connection to its Old English roots and continues to be a prominent surname in England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilmot families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilmot 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 336 Wilmots recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.72x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 336 1.72x
Derbyshire 252 8.25x
Surrey 120 1.26x
Somerset 108 3.44x
Yorkshire 104 0.54x
Gloucestershire 84 2.20x
Nottinghamshire 82 3.12x
Lincolnshire 69 2.21x
Hampshire 57 1.43x
Devon 55 1.36x
Hertfordshire 52 3.87x
Kent 52 0.78x
Buckinghamshire 45 3.82x
Wiltshire 41 2.38x
Leicestershire 38 1.76x
Cornwall 32 1.45x
Lancashire 32 0.14x
Northamptonshire 32 1.74x
Staffordshire 31 0.47x
Sussex 30 0.91x
Berkshire 29 1.98x
Bedfordshire 28 2.77x
Warwickshire 28 0.57x
Worcestershire 28 1.10x
Cambridgeshire 27 2.19x
Norfolk 27 0.90x
Essex 25 0.65x
Durham 24 0.41x
Glamorgan 18 0.53x
Northumberland 17 0.59x
Cheshire 14 0.33x
Dorset 14 1.09x
Monmouthshire 14 0.99x
Suffolk 11 0.46x
Lanarkshire 10 0.16x
Roxburghshire 10 2.83x
Herefordshire 8 1.00x
Shropshire 8 0.47x
Channel Islands 4 0.69x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.12x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 76 Wilmots recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.84x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 76 4.84x
Lambeth 41 2.41x
Matlock 31 75.63x
Darley 29 235.01x
Ashover 25 164.58x
Islington London 24 1.27x
Hackney London 23 2.10x
Newington 21 2.92x
Walcot 20 11.96x
Briston 19 333.92x
Kensington London 19 1.75x
Stoke Poges 19 132.13x
West Ham 18 2.12x
Bristol St Paul In 17 16.68x
Derby St Peter 17 17.48x
Ripley 17 45.05x
Glossop Dale 16 11.19x
Handsworth 16 9.86x
Mylor 16 108.18x
Bitton Oldland 15 38.37x
Nottingham St Mary 15 2.21x
Paddington London 15 2.09x
Camberwell 14 1.12x
Mansfield 14 15.39x
Radford 14 10.49x
Birmingham 13 0.79x
Deptford St Paul 13 2.53x
Fulham London 13 4.60x
Hitchin 13 21.43x
Stapleford 13 60.89x
Bletsoe 12 535.71x
Falmouth 12 15.36x
Hammersmith London 12 2.50x
Shoreditch London 12 1.42x
Withycombe Rawleigh 12 56.74x
Bedminster 11 3.73x
Hatfield 11 40.37x
Heanor 11 24.09x
Leicester St Margaret 11 2.09x
Pentrich 11 64.03x
Upton Cum Chalvey 11 23.41x
Wellington 11 25.85x
Weston 11 45.57x
Bitton 10 30.04x
Bromley London 10 2.33x
Chiswick 10 9.39x
Hawick 10 12.65x
Peterborough 10 7.53x
Poplar London 10 2.72x
St George Hanover 10 3.93x
Wisbech St Peter 10 16.14x
Barnsley 9 4.52x
Barton St Mary St Peter 9 155.71x
Bristol St James In 9 16.00x
Compton 9 486.49x
Glasgow 9 0.80x
Silchester 9 285.71x
St Martin In Fields 9 7.71x
St Marylebone London 9 0.86x
Tooting Graveney 9 34.04x
Witham Friary 9 277.78x
Wolverhampton 9 1.78x
Blundeston 8 167.71x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 2.22x
Bristol Temple 8 31.77x
Castleton 8 3.46x
Crondall 8 37.26x
Denaby 8 73.19x
Duffield 8 33.25x
Ecclesfield 8 5.65x
Hartington Upper 8 54.95x
Marden 8 571.43x
West Tytherley 8 281.69x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.41x
Chelsea London 7 1.19x
Claylane 7 16.49x
Luddington 7 1228.07x
South Perrott 7 346.53x
Stranton 7 3.58x
Wraxall 7 116.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 114
Elizabeth 75
Sarah 70
Eliza 43
Annie 42
Emma 42
Jane 37
Alice 32
Louisa 30
Ann 29
Emily 28
Ellen 23
Hannah 23
Maria 21
Caroline 16
Florence 15
Harriet 15
Charlotte 14
Fanny 14
Martha 13
Ada 12
Frances 12
Kate 12
Susan 12
Lucy 11
Agnes 10
Clara 8
Amelia 7
Edith 7
Ethel 7
Harriett 7
Margaret 7
Rebecca 7
Anne 6
Beatrice 6
Lily 6
Amy 5
Matilda 5
Maud 5
Eleanor 4
Esther 4
Francis 4
Lydia 4
Rose 4
Ruth 4
Constance 3
Isabella 3
Laura 3
Rosina 3
Selina 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 112
John 108
George 67
James 61
Thomas 48
Henry 47
Charles 43
Joseph 28
Robert 28
Arthur 26
Alfred 23
Frederick 23
Edward 20
Walter 20
Herbert 17
Samuel 17
Albert 15
Frank 15
Ernest 13
Richard 12
Harry 11
Edwin 8
Thos. 7
Francis 6
Benjamin 5
Isaac 5
Sydney 5
Fred 4
Fredrick 4
Geo. 4
Lewis 4
Reginald 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Frederic 3
Peter 3
Saml. 3
Amos 2
Ben. 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Egbert 2
Hugh 2
Jesse 2
Joshua 2
Leonard 2
Sidney 2

FAQ

Wilmot surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilmot surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,003 people were recorded with the Wilmot surname. That placed it at #2,199 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilmot surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,584 in 2016. That gives Wilmot a modern rank of #2,568.

What does the Wilmot surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "willow tree hill," from Old English elements wilig, meaning "willow," and mot, "hill."

What does the Wilmot map show?

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