NameCensus.

UK surname

Wingfield

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Wingfield in England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,379 people recorded with the Wingfield surname, ranking it #2,987 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,574, ranked #3,941, down from #2,987 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Leicester and Hastings.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wingfield is 1,769 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.1%.

1881 census count

1,379

Ranked #2,987

Modern count

1,574

2016, ranked #3,941

Peak year

1901

1,769 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wingfield had 1,379 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,987 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,574 in 2016, ranked #3,941.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,769 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wingfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wingfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wingfield 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 883 #3,098
1861 historical 930 #2,985
1881 historical 1,379 #2,987
1891 historical 1,544 #2,856
1901 historical 1,769 #2,939
1911 historical 1,752 #2,806
1997 modern 1,612 #3,677
1998 modern 1,691 #3,644
1999 modern 1,680 #3,699
2000 modern 1,651 #3,738
2001 modern 1,596 #3,783
2002 modern 1,609 #3,831
2003 modern 1,601 #3,764
2004 modern 1,587 #3,809
2005 modern 1,514 #3,931
2006 modern 1,523 #3,913
2007 modern 1,509 #3,982
2008 modern 1,502 #4,026
2009 modern 1,554 #3,983
2010 modern 1,599 #3,951
2011 modern 1,591 #3,926
2012 modern 1,560 #3,934
2013 modern 1,590 #3,940
2014 modern 1,596 #3,947
2015 modern 1,567 #3,971
2016 modern 1,574 #3,941

Geography

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Where Wingfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Leicester, Hastings and County Durham. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 008 East Lindsey
2 Leicester 037 Leicester
3 Leicester 011 Leicester
4 Hastings 005 Hastings
5 County Durham 038 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wingfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wingfield

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wingfield 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

Wingfield is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wingfield falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wingfield

The surname Wingfield originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 11th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "wingefeld" or "wingfeld," which translate to "windy field" or "field by the winding stream." This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name, as was common during that era.

One of the earliest known mentions of the Wingfield name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. This entry refers to a place called "Wincfelt" in Derbyshire, which is thought to be the ancestral home of the Wingfield family.

In the 13th century, the Wingfield family held significant landholdings in Suffolk, where they established themselves as influential nobles. Sir John de Wingfield (c. 1300-1389) was a prominent knight during the reign of Edward III and served as a member of Parliament for Suffolk. His son, Sir Robert Wingfield (c. 1347-1420), also played a notable role in the Hundred Years' War against France.

During the 15th century, the Wingfield family gained further prominence with the rise of Sir Robert Wingfield (c. 1430-1481), who served as the Lord Chancellor of England under King Edward IV. He was succeeded by his son, Sir John Wingfield (c. 1470-1509), who held the prestigious position of Captain of the Guard for King Henry VII.

Another notable figure with the Wingfield surname was Sir Anthony Wingfield (c. 1490-1552), who served as a courtier and diplomat during the reigns of King Henry VIII and Edward VI. He played a key role in the negotiations that led to the marriage of King Henry VIII to Anne of Cleves.

In the realm of literature, the Wingfield name is associated with the 17th-century writer Edward Maria Wingfield (1550-1631), who is considered one of the first English settlers in the Virginia colony. His account, "A Discourse of Virginia," provided valuable insights into the early colonization efforts in North America.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the Wingfield surname throughout history, reflecting the name's deep roots and influential presence across various fields and eras in England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wingfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wingfield 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 299 Wingfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.21x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 299 2.21x
Yorkshire 195 1.46x
Derbyshire 126 5.96x
Sussex 110 4.83x
Surrey 101 1.54x
Hertfordshire 51 5.48x
Suffolk 51 3.10x
Kent 50 1.09x
Nottinghamshire 50 2.75x
Lincolnshire 38 1.76x
Warwickshire 32 0.94x
Essex 31 1.16x
Gloucestershire 28 1.06x
Norfolk 26 1.25x
Cheshire 23 0.77x
Lancashire 22 0.14x
Devon 20 0.71x
Staffordshire 20 0.44x
Hampshire 18 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 17 2.08x
Berkshire 12 1.18x
Durham 12 0.30x
Rutland 11 11.10x
Cornwall 7 0.46x
Shropshire 6 0.51x
Huntingdonshire 5 1.87x
Leicestershire 5 0.33x
Worcestershire 4 0.23x
Oxfordshire 3 0.36x
Royal Navy 3 1.86x
Dorset 2 0.23x
Monmouthshire 2 0.20x
Denbighshire 1 0.20x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Wiltshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 59 Wingfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.68x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 59 21.68x
Sheffield 36 8.45x
Bethnal Green London 34 5.80x
Mile End Old Town 33 15.49x
Broadwater 28 53.63x
Nether Hallam 27 14.92x
Islington London 25 1.91x
Brighton 23 5.01x
Belper 22 53.68x
Lambeth 21 1.78x
Sarratt 21 650.15x
St George Hanover 21 11.92x
Newington 18 3.61x
Brightside Bierlow 16 6.10x
Derby St Werburgh 14 11.47x
St Pancras London 14 1.29x
Bromley 13 18.52x
Chelsea London 13 3.20x
Hastings St Mary In The 13 26.77x
St Marylebone London 13 1.80x
Chesterfield 12 15.14x
Paddington London 12 2.42x
Brandon Byshottles 11 21.86x
Bromley London 11 3.70x
Bury St Edmunds St James 11 25.05x
Great Stanmore 11 181.52x
Hackney London 11 1.45x
Holy Trinity 11 3.42x
Birmingham 10 0.88x
Bulwell 10 25.28x
Clapham 10 5.92x
Clerkenwell London 10 3.14x
Hastings St Leonards 10 29.89x
Mansfield 10 15.88x
Rotherhithe 10 5.99x
Ruislip 10 148.81x
Shoreditch London 10 1.71x
St Luke London 10 4.62x
Unstone 10 120.34x
Walthamstow 10 10.43x
Aston 9 0.96x
Barnes 9 32.35x
Grantham 9 31.99x
Great Barrington 9 430.62x
Heveningham 9 616.44x
Leftwich 9 67.98x
Market Overton 9 502.79x
Moulton 9 86.62x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 4.16x
Poplar London 9 3.53x
Tonge With Haulgh 9 28.86x
Upper Hallam 9 77.45x
Whittington 9 30.78x
Camberwell 8 0.93x
Castle Acre 8 129.66x
Hoxne 8 171.67x
Selston 8 39.37x
Southwick 8 66.45x
Spalding 8 18.67x
Wath On Dearne 8 29.97x
West Ham 8 1.36x
Deptford St Paul 7 1.97x
Greenwich 7 3.26x
Newbold Dunston 7 34.84x
Nuneaton 7 17.75x
Portsmouth 7 10.99x
Welwyn 7 86.85x
Wingfield 7 327.10x
Barcheston 6 714.29x
Bradfield 6 11.63x
Chalfont St Peter 6 89.15x
Diss 6 33.73x
Eastbourne 6 5.73x
Hastings St Clement 6 28.01x
Hendon 6 12.35x
Kensington London 6 0.80x
Kings Langley 6 88.50x
Westminster St 6 12.06x
Westminster St James 6 4.32x
Westminster St John 6 3.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 92
George 57
John 52
Thomas 47
James 39
Henry 32
Joseph 27
Charles 26
Alfred 23
Arthur 20
Frederick 19
Edward 16
Walter 16
Albert 13
Samuel 13
Harry 12
Robert 11
Herbert 8
Ernest 7
Richard 5
Daniel 4
Fred 4
Fredrick 4
Lewis 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
David 3
Mark 3
Maurice 3
Anthony 2
Digby 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fred. 2
Horace 2
Hy. 2
Jesse 2
Nicholas 2
Percy 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Charels 1
Ed. 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Enoch 1
Henery 1

FAQ

Wingfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wingfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,379 people were recorded with the Wingfield surname. That placed it at #2,987 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wingfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,574 in 2016. That gives Wingfield a modern rank of #3,941.

What does the Wingfield surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Wingfield in England.

What does the Wingfield map show?

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