UK surname
An English surname denoting a person from the town of that name.
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Wilston surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Whittington, St Pancras and Bidstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilston is 161 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 78.3%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1861
161 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wilston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wilston surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 161 | #14,392 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 85 | #26,080 |
| 1901 | historical | 35 | #30,194 |
| 1911 | historical | 36 | #29,370 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Whittington, St Pancras, Bidstone, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whittington | Derbyshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Bidstone | Cheshire |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wilston surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wilston, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wilston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wilston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wilston is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wilston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wilston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wilston has its origins in England, likely emerging during the early medieval period. The name is thought to have originated from Old English elements, possibly from the combination of Wil, meaning "will" or "desire," and tun, meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." As such, it may have referred to a person who resided in or owned such a settlement, or someone whose personality or deeds were synonymous with a strong will or desire.
It is essential to note that surnames in medieval England began to develop as a means of distinguishing individuals, especially as populations grew. Wilston as a surname may have had variations in its spelling, including Willston, Wylston, and Wilstun. Such variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling in documents from that era.
One of the earliest mentions of a person with the surname Wilston can be found in manorial rolls and tax records. A notable early bearer of the name was Richard Wilston, who appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. These rolls were records of taxation collected by the Crown and provide vital information about landowners and residents during this time.
Another significant individual was Thomas Wilston, a landholder documented in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1381. These fines were legal records of agreements, usually over land disputes or transfers, and they provide valuable insights into land ownership and social status.
In the 15th century, John Wilston, a yeoman, appeared in the Muster Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1453. These rolls were lists of able-bodied men liable for military service, showing that the Wilston name was associated with the gentry and those deemed capable of bearing arms.
Elizabeth Wilston appeared in the parish records of Wiltshire in 1508. Parish records were some of the earliest forms of systematic record-keeping in England, documenting baptisms, marriages, and burials. Elizabeth’s appearance in these records indicates that the surname had by this time spread across various counties in England.
By the 17th century, the surname Wilston had reached further afield with the migration of people from England. One notable figure, William Wilston, an early settler in Virginia, was documented in 1635 on a passenger list of those bound for the New World. This shows the extent to which the surname had proliferated and followed the patterns of English colonization.
Throughout history, the surname Wilston has been borne by various individuals who have contributed to its legacy, from landowners and soldiers to early settlers in the New World. Their records provide a fascinating glimpse into the evolution and dispersal of this particular surname through the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilston surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Wilstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 4.01x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 3.60x |
| Surrey | 3 | 2.74x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 8.61x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 3.33x |
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 7 Wilstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Pancras London | 7 | 38.76x |
| Aston Cum Aughton | 6 | 3333.33x |
| Southwark St Olave | 3 | 1764.71x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 22.12x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 8.27x |
| Everton | 1 | 11.78x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 28.65x |
| Luton | 1 | 49.75x |
| Scotton In Richmond | 1 | 10000.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 8.35x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wilston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wilston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Wilston households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Colier Lab Bankman | 1 |
| Cook Dom Serv | 1 |
| Factory (Girl Lab) | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Master Wheelwright Employing 6 Men | 1 |
| Pony Driver (C M) | 1 |
| Wheelwright Journeyman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Wilston surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Wilston a modern rank of #38,264.
An English surname denoting a person from the town of that name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wilston bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.