NameCensus.

UK surname

Wimble

A geographical surname indicating someone who lived near a thicket or grove of trees.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Wimble surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 231, ranked #17,764, down from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Maidstone, Linton, Loddington and Appledore. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shepway, Gosport and Arun.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wimble is 322 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.2%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

231

2016, ranked #17,764

Peak year

1911

322 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wimble had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016, ranked #17,764.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 322 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wimble surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wimble surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wimble 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 141 #13,507
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 261 #12,337
1901 historical 302 #11,592
1911 historical 322 #10,873
1997 modern 247 #15,399
1998 modern 251 #15,631
1999 modern 243 #16,094
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 237 #16,048
2002 modern 241 #16,243
2003 modern 235 #16,291
2004 modern 231 #16,591
2005 modern 221 #17,028
2006 modern 218 #17,297
2007 modern 227 #17,041
2008 modern 241 #16,481
2009 modern 245 #16,646
2010 modern 254 #16,604
2011 modern 249 #16,684
2012 modern 243 #16,839
2013 modern 247 #16,935
2014 modern 244 #17,189
2015 modern 242 #17,191
2016 modern 231 #17,764

Geography

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Where Wimbles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Maidstone, Linton, Loddington, Appledore, Milton next Sittingbourne and Chatham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shepway, Gosport, Arun, Croydon and Newark and Sherwood. 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 3
2 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent
3 Appledore Kent
4 Milton next Sittingbourne Kent
5 Chatham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shepway 011 Shepway
2 Gosport 006 Gosport
3 Arun 016 Arun
4 Croydon 030 Croydon
5 Newark and Sherwood 008 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wimble

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wimble

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

Wimble is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wimble falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wimble

The surname Wimble is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period. Derived from the Old English words "winn," meaning meadow or pasture, and "bold," indicating a dwelling or house, the surname likely referred to someone who lived by a meadow house. Wimble also finds potential roots in the Old English personal name "Winn," suggesting that it may have originated as an occupational or locational surname.

Historically, the name Wimble appears in various records and manuscripts across England. One notable mention is in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex dated 1296, where a William de Wimble is recorded. This early appearance of the name provides a glimpse into its geographic presence in the southeastern part of England.

In 1327, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset with Robert le Wymble, indicating that the surname had started to spread across different regions of England. This period saw the proliferation of surnames in England, often documenting individuals' professions, geographic locations, or notable characteristics.

John Wimble, born around 1460 in Gloucestershire, became a prominent figure in local commerce, dealing primarily in wool—a thriving industry in medieval England. His commercial success is documented in local guild records and charters, marking an important point in the social mobility of those bearing the surname.

Richard Wimble, a cleric from Hertfordshire born circa 1530, gained notoriety for his religious writings and contributions to the Anglican Church during the Elizabethan era. His works are preserved in the ecclesiastical archives and provide insight into the theological discourses of the time.

Thomas Wimble, a 17th-century mariner from Devon, born in 1615, is remembered for his explorations and contributions to maritime navigation. His voyages, documented in ship logs and letters, highlight the adventurous spirit associated with the name during the Age of Exploration.

In the 18th century, Elizabeth Wimble, born in 1735 in Kent, became known for her philanthropic efforts. She established one of the first charitable institutions for orphaned children in the region, her work recorded in various charitable trust documents and local histories.

James Wimble, an inventor from Lancashire born in 1852, contributed significantly to early mechanical engineering advancements. His patented designs for agricultural machinery are detailed in patent records and engineering journals of the late Victorian era.

The surname Wimble, with its diverse and storied history, reflects the geographic mobility, professional diversification, and social contributions of those who bore the name across centuries in England. From medieval meadows to maritime adventures and engineering innovations, individuals with the surname have left a lasting mark on English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wimble families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wimble 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. Kent leads with 121 Wimbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.47x.

County Total Index
Kent 121 15.47x
Middlesex 38 1.66x
Yorkshire 20 0.88x
Surrey 19 1.70x
Sussex 19 4.92x
Channel Islands 8 11.78x
Norfolk 4 1.13x
Northumberland 2 0.59x
Devon 1 0.21x
Essex 1 0.22x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Worcestershire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Appledore in Kent leads with 31 Wimbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 6078.43x.

Place Total Index
Appledore 31 6078.43x
Staplehurst 16 1250.00x
Islington London 11 4.95x
Camberwell 9 6.15x
Charlton Next Woolwich 9 110.29x
Kingston By Sea 9 1475.41x
Streatham 9 52.91x
St Helier 8 36.18x
Hackney London 7 5.45x
Old Romney 7 5833.33x
Bethnal Green London 6 6.02x
Bromley 6 50.34x
Chatham 6 27.88x
Kenardington 5 3333.33x
Maidstone 5 21.46x
Milton In Gravesend 5 42.63x
New Shoreham 5 215.52x
Shadwell London 5 78.00x
St Luke London 5 13.60x
Wittersham 5 714.29x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 4 51.48x
Gillingham 4 24.80x
Great Ayton 4 287.77x
North Walsham 4 157.48x
Plumstead 4 15.34x
Snargate 4 3333.33x
Brighton 3 3.85x
Grimstn Krby Wharf N 3 1500.00x
Ivychurch 3 1500.00x
Skirpenbeck 3 2500.00x
Canterbury St Peter 2 227.27x
Mile End Old Town 2 5.53x
Nether Hallam 2 6.51x
Scarborough 2 9.69x
Tynemouth 2 10.95x
Ash Next Sandwich 1 57.80x
Christ Church Newgate 1 93.46x
Exeter Heavitree 1 28.09x
Gravesend 1 15.11x
Great Malvern 1 16.00x
Hastings All Sts 1 27.47x
Holy Trinity 1 1.83x
Hove 1 5.90x
Leeds 1 0.78x
Lydd 1 59.88x
Minster In Sheppey 1 7.72x
Northfleet 1 14.51x
Ruckinge 1 322.58x
Ryde 1 9.91x
Wanstead 1 12.63x
Westminster St 1 11.83x
Whitstable 1 26.04x
Willesborough 1 47.62x
Woking 1 14.86x
Wye 1 82.64x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 11
William 11
Charles 9
John 9
James 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 6
Arthur 5
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Herbert 3
Peter 3
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Jonathan 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Augustus 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Lewis 1
Loftus 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Wallace 1
Wildband 1

FAQ

Wimble surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wimble surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Wimble surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wimble surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016. That gives Wimble a modern rank of #17,764.

What does the Wimble surname mean?

A geographical surname indicating someone who lived near a thicket or grove of trees.

What does the Wimble map show?

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