UK surname
A surname derived from a placename referring to the county of Wiltshire, England.
In the 1881 census there were 125 people recorded with the Wilts surname, ranking it #17,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #17,335 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilts is 336 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.6%.
1881 census count
125
Ranked #17,335
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1911
336 bearers
Map years
3
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wilts surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wilts surname density by area, 1881 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 | 74 | #20,443 |
| 1861 | historical | 28 | #30,405 |
| 1881 | historical | 125 | #17,335 |
| 1891 | historical | 207 | #14,546 |
| 1901 | historical | 99 | #22,999 |
| 1911 | historical | 336 | #10,563 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew and Poole St James. 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 | Swindon, Lyddington | Wiltshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew | Worcestershire |
| 4 | Poole St James | Dorset |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wilts 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 Wilts, 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 Wilts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wilts 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, Wilts 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 Wilts is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wilts, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wilts likely originates from England, particularly from the region of Wiltshire, a county in South West England. The name itself can be traced back to the Old English period, deriving from the term "Wilt," which is a short form of "Wiltunscir," an old spelling for Wiltshire. The suffix "-shire" indicates a division or district. The name reflects geographic origin, signifying someone who hailed from Wiltshire or its vicinity.
Historical references to the surname are found in various English records. While the Domesday Book of 1086 does not explicitly list the surname Wilts, it does document the region of Wiltshire, providing a foundation for the name's geographic ties. Over time, as surnames became hereditary and more formalized, those originating from Wiltshire adopted the name Wilts.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wilts dates back to the 14th century. A man named John de Wilts is mentioned in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire, pointing to his origin and establishing the surname's historical roots. The prepositional "de" before Wilts was commonly used in medieval England, denoting origin.
The name continued to appear in historical documents and records throughout the centuries. Richard Wilts, born in the late 15th century, is noted for being a landowner in Wiltshire, having his name recorded in manorial rolls. His legacy contributed to the spread and continuation of the surname in the area.
In the 17th century, the name appears again with Philip Wilts, born in 1623, who served as a parish clerk in a village in Wiltshire. His administrative role within the church is recorded in parish registers, further cementing the surname’s presence.
The 18th century saw the name appear in legal and governmental documents. George Wilts, born in 1750, was a noted lawyer in London, although his family origins were traced back to Wiltshire. His legal documents and correspondences provide further evidence of the surname's ongoing use and prominence.
Another significant figure is Anne Wilts, born in 1797, who became known for her contributions to local education in Wiltshire, founding one of the first schools for girls in the region. Records from educational archives document her influence and the continued presence of the surname in English society.
Overall, the surname Wilts traces its origins to the county of Wiltshire, evolving from geographic designations in Old English. Its historical references span several centuries, marked by appearances in legal, administrative, and educational records, illustrating the enduring legacy of the name Wilts across different facets of English history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilts 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. Gloucestershire leads with 27 Wilts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.47x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 27 | 11.47x |
| Middlesex | 27 | 2.25x |
| Surrey | 14 | 2.39x |
| Kent | 13 | 3.18x |
| Hampshire | 12 | 4.88x |
| Wiltshire | 7 | 6.60x |
| Berkshire | 6 | 6.66x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.50x |
| Herefordshire | 4 | 8.13x |
| Fife | 2 | 2.82x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 4.20x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.07x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.15x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.33x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 10 Wilts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.65x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wilts 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 Wilts 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 Wilts households.
FAQ
In 1881, 125 people were recorded with the Wilts surname. That placed it at #17,335 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Wilts a modern rank of #37,829.
A surname derived from a placename referring to the county of Wiltshire, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wilts 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.