NameCensus.

UK surname

Wilson

Derived from a patronymic form of Will or William, meaning "son of Will/William."

In the 1881 census there were 137,750 people recorded with the Wilson surname, ranking it #7 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190,823, also still ranked #7.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Allerdale and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilson is 195,593 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.5%.

1881 census count

137,750

Ranked #7

Modern count

190,823

2016, ranked #7

Peak year

2010

195,593 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wilson had 137,750 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 190,823 in 2016, ranked #7.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 172,379 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Wilson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wilson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wilson 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 88,507 #9
1861 historical 97,958 #7
1881 historical 137,750 #7
1891 historical 151,639 #7
1901 historical 172,379 #7
1911 historical 140,563 #10
1997 modern 187,064 #7
1998 modern 192,965 #7
1999 modern 194,007 #7
2000 modern 193,657 #7
2001 modern 188,331 #7
2002 modern 191,823 #7
2003 modern 186,918 #7
2004 modern 186,979 #7
2005 modern 184,130 #7
2006 modern 184,056 #7
2007 modern 186,078 #7
2008 modern 187,263 #7
2009 modern 191,148 #7
2010 modern 195,593 #7
2011 modern 192,153 #7
2012 modern 188,254 #7
2013 modern 191,764 #7
2014 modern 193,353 #7
2015 modern 191,711 #7
2016 modern 190,823 #7

Geography

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Where Wilsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Gateshead and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Allerdale, Leeds, Eden and Copeland. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 003 South Lakeland
2 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
3 Leeds 110 Leeds
4 Eden 004 Eden
5 Copeland 008 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wilson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wilson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Wilson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Wilson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wilson 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

Wilson is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wilson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wilson

The surname Wilson has its origins in England and Scotland, emerging during the medieval period. The name is an occupational surname derived from the Old English "Wil" and "sunu," meaning "son of Will." It initially referred to the son of someone named William or a variation thereof.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Wilsun." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings across England and provided a valuable record of surnames in use at the time.

As the name evolved, various spellings emerged, such as Wilsone, Willson, and Wylson. These variations reflect regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling during the Middle Ages. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name include Walter Wilsun, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1191, and Robert Wylson, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

The surname Wilson is also linked to several place names in England and Scotland. For instance, the parish of Wilsonton in Lanarkshire, Scotland, was once known as "Wilsoun's Town," suggesting a connection to an early settler or landowner with the name.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Wilson. One of the most prominent was Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the 28th President of the United States, who served from 1913 to 1921. His administration oversaw the United States' involvement in World War I and played a crucial role in shaping the post-war international order.

Another famous bearer of the name was Robert Woodrow Wilson (1936-), an American physicist and Nobel laureate. He co-discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation in 1964, providing crucial evidence for the Big Bang theory and the origins of the universe.

In the literary realm, Sir Angus Wilson (1913-1991) was a prominent English novelist and short story writer, known for works such as "Anglo-Saxon Attitudes" and "The Old Men at the Zoo." He was also a renowned academic and served as a professor of English literature at the University of East Anglia.

The world of art also boasts notable figures with the surname Wilson. Richard Wilson (1714-1782) was a renowned Welsh landscape painter and one of the founders of the Royal Academy in London. His works were highly influential in the development of British landscape painting.

Another prominent figure was John Wilson (1785-1854), better known as Christopher North, a Scottish writer, and literary critic. He served as a professor of moral philosophy at the University of Edinburgh and was a prominent contributor to Blackwood's Magazine.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wilson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilson 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. Yorkshire leads with 22,139 Wilsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.67x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 22,139 1.67x
Lancashire 15,643 0.98x
Lanarkshire 10,178 2.35x
Middlesex 9,351 0.70x
Durham 8,568 2.15x
Midlothian 4,453 2.48x
Northumberland 4,040 2.02x
Ayrshire 3,842 3.83x
Surrey 3,683 0.56x
Cumberland 3,332 2.88x
Lincolnshire 2,794 1.30x
Kent 2,692 0.59x
Fife 2,509 3.16x
Renfrewshire 2,414 2.32x
Nottinghamshire 2,386 1.32x
Aberdeenshire 2,383 1.92x
Warwickshire 2,324 0.69x
Staffordshire 2,149 0.47x
Cheshire 2,024 0.68x
Derbyshire 1,960 0.93x
Essex 1,582 0.60x
Angus 1,569 1.26x
Norfolk 1,460 0.71x
Stirlingshire 1,137 2.30x
Westmorland 1,131 3.84x
Northamptonshire 1,113 0.88x
Hampshire 1,062 0.39x
Sussex 1,038 0.46x
Banffshire 982 3.53x
Dumfriesshire 890 3.00x
Perthshire 884 1.47x
Leicestershire 882 0.59x
Cambridgeshire 858 1.01x
Gloucestershire 761 0.29x
Dunbartonshire 747 2.07x
Roxburghshire 743 3.06x
Worcestershire 740 0.42x
Hertfordshire 677 0.73x
Devon 667 0.24x
Suffolk 579 0.35x
Berwickshire 543 3.34x
Kirkcudbrightshire 542 2.79x
West Lothian 495 2.45x
Shropshire 442 0.38x
Glamorgan 440 0.19x
Bedfordshire 439 0.63x
Berkshire 383 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 377 0.46x
Somerset 352 0.16x
Wigtownshire 348 1.95x
East Lothian 335 1.89x
Argyllshire 292 0.78x
Selkirkshire 275 2.27x
Orkney 264 1.79x
Peeblesshire 215 3.41x
Huntingdonshire 196 0.74x
Clackmannanshire 195 1.76x
Kincardineshire 193 1.18x
Inverness-shire 192 0.48x
Morayshire 192 0.92x
Wiltshire 190 0.16x
Oxfordshire 172 0.21x
Herefordshire 155 0.28x
Buteshire 150 1.85x
Dorset 139 0.16x
Monmouthshire 136 0.14x
Flintshire 118 0.33x
Denbighshire 115 0.23x
Royal Navy 115 0.72x
Carmarthenshire 112 0.20x
Shetland 106 0.77x
Cornwall 103 0.07x
Montgomeryshire 99 0.32x
Ross-shire 87 0.24x
Isle of Man 75 0.30x
Channel Islands 71 0.18x
Caernarfonshire 70 0.13x
Pembrokeshire 68 0.16x
Nairnshire 66 1.61x
Kinross-shire 59 1.74x
Sutherland 51 0.49x
Rutland 47 0.48x
Brecknockshire 40 0.15x
Caithness 40 0.22x
Cardiganshire 27 0.08x
Radnorshire 24 0.22x
Anglesey 14 0.06x
Merionethshire 10 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 2,487 Wilsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.26x.

Place Total Index
Barony 2,487 2.26x
Govan 2,385 2.22x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1,830 2.53x
Glasgow 1,639 2.13x
Leeds 1,363 1.82x
Islington London 1,080 0.83x
Liverpool 821 0.85x
Lambeth 802 0.69x
Bishopwearmouth 794 2.32x
St Pancras London 781 0.72x
Gateshead 771 2.58x
Birmingham 730 0.65x
Everton 688 1.36x
Dundee 669 1.44x
Toxteth Park 648 1.20x
Holy Trinity 625 1.95x
Sheffield 621 1.47x
Dunfermline 595 4.87x
Hackney London 566 0.75x
Salford 564 1.20x
Aston 563 0.60x
Nottingham St Mary 557 1.19x
Preston 554 1.30x
Manchester 540 0.75x
Camberwell 531 0.62x
Aberdeen Old Machar 517 1.99x
St Marylebone London 516 0.72x
West Derby 509 1.09x
Ecclesall Bierlow 507 1.87x
Kensington London 505 0.68x
Bradford 496 1.54x
Shoreditch London 446 0.77x
Blackburn 439 1.04x
Kilmarnock 431 3.61x
Westoe 428 1.89x
Bethnal Green London 423 0.73x
Stockton On Tees 415 2.16x
Abbey 393 2.48x
Sculcoates 393 1.86x
Hamilton 372 3.07x
South Leith 370 1.83x
West Greenock 370 1.98x
Hunslet 369 1.78x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 368 1.58x
Hulme 364 1.10x
Kirkdale 362 1.35x
Barrow In Furness 360 1.66x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 356 2.06x
Halifax 354 1.81x
West Ham 334 0.57x
Elswick 331 2.08x
Brightside Bierlow 324 1.24x
Old Monkland 324 1.88x
Chelsea London 322 0.80x
North Leith 320 3.85x
Middlesbrough 318 1.84x
Battersea 304 0.62x
Stranton 304 2.26x
Falkirk 302 2.61x
Dewsbury 296 2.17x
Cambusnethan 294 3.05x
New Monkland 294 2.29x
Oldham 290 0.56x
Portsea 288 0.53x
Mile End Old Town 287 1.36x
Darlington 285 1.85x
Westgate 285 2.31x
Scarborough 283 2.34x
Paddington London 282 0.57x
Newington 277 0.56x
Newcastle On Tyne St 270 2.61x
Paisley High Church 265 3.20x
St George Hanover 262 1.50x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 259 2.17x
Stoke Upon Trent 259 0.54x
Chorlton On Medlock 257 1.02x
Batley 256 2.03x
Brighton 256 0.56x
Horton In Bradford 254 1.22x
Clerkenwell London 253 0.80x
Huddersfield 251 1.30x
Leicester St Margaret 241 0.66x
Byker 230 2.33x
Liff Benvie 230 1.22x
Birkenhead 229 0.97x
Nether Hallam 227 1.26x
Poplar London 227 0.90x
Bermondsey 225 0.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7,194
Elizabeth 4,131
Sarah 3,556
Jane 2,497
Ann 2,138
Margaret 1,705
Annie 1,600
Hannah 1,303
Alice 1,301
Emma 1,297
Ellen 1,281
Eliza 1,265
Emily 912
Martha 862
Isabella 762
Harriet 598
Louisa 524
Ada 514
Edith 507
Maria 504
Agnes 503
Florence 502
Catherine 501
Charlotte 489
Fanny 485
Frances 439
Clara 417
Anne 397
Caroline 392
Kate 353
Lucy 313
Eleanor 294
Esther 271
Susan 254
Rebecca 236
Jessie 234
Rose 210
Harriett 208
Susannah 201
Amelia 191
Elizth. 186
Matilda 185
Sophia 176
Amy 170
Grace 167
Laura 157
Ruth 156
Gertrude 152
Minnie 152
Julia 150

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6,956
William 5,945
Thomas 3,854
George 3,537
James 3,443
Joseph 2,026
Robert 1,974
Henry 1,755
Charles 1,628
Edward 996
Arthur 851
Richard 842
Alfred 803
Samuel 687
Frederick 609
Walter 569
Harry 522
Albert 487
David 416
Frank 379
Herbert 379
Wm. 301
Francis 263
Benjamin 258
Fred 251
Edwin 248
Ernest 246
Isaac 234
Thos. 230
Alexander 225
Matthew 207
Geo. 194
Tom 188
Andrew 181
Peter 169
Daniel 146
Stephen 134
Ralph 130
Christopher 120
Hugh 106
Robt. 98
Jonathan 95
Chas. 85
Edmund 84
Fredk. 83
Percy 78
Fredrick 75
Jno. 72
Mark 72
Joshua 69

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 Wilson households.

FAQ

Wilson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wilson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 137,750 people were recorded with the Wilson surname. That placed it at #7 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wilson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190,823 in 2016. That gives Wilson a modern rank of #7.

What does the Wilson surname mean?

Derived from a patronymic form of Will or William, meaning "son of Will/William."

What does the Wilson map show?

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