NameCensus.

UK surname

Wimshurst

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Wimshurst surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 95, ranked #31,782, down from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, South Tyneside and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wimshurst is 110 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.9%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

95

2016, ranked #31,782

Peak year

1998

110 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2006

Key insights

  • Wimshurst had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016, ranked #31,782.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 79 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Wimshurst surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wimshurst surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wimshurst 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 57 #29,533
1901 historical 72 #26,162
1911 historical 79 #24,903
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 101 #27,617
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 100 #27,722
2004 modern 103 #27,503
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 100 #31,033
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 95 #31,782

Geography

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Where Wimshursts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, South Tyneside, Havant, Stafford and Hounslow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 013 Lewes
2 South Tyneside 006 South Tyneside
3 Havant 019 Havant
4 Stafford 016 Stafford
5 Hounslow 003 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wimshurst

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wimshurst

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Wimshurst surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Wimshurst household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Wimshurst is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wimshurst is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wimshurst falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wimshurst is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Wimshurst, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Wimshurst families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wimshurst 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 21 Wimshursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 21 3.26x
Kent 20 9.11x
Surrey 9 2.87x
Lancashire 7 0.92x
Durham 6 3.13x
Sussex 2 1.84x
Essex 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 16 Wimshursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 202.02x.

Place Total Index
Tonbridge 16 202.02x
Poplar London 10 82.30x
Bromley London 9 63.56x
Everton 7 28.76x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 72.38x
Clapham 5 62.11x
Penge 4 97.32x
Brenchley 3 379.75x
St George Hanover 2 23.81x
Barking 1 26.88x
Brighton 1 4.57x
Pembury 1 322.58x
Wadhurst 1 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Henry 5
George 4
William 3
James 2
John 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bertram 1
Charlie 1
Everden 1
Everdin 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1

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 Wimshurst households.

FAQ

Wimshurst surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wimshurst surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Wimshurst surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wimshurst surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016. That gives Wimshurst a modern rank of #31,782.

What does the Wimshurst map show?

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