NameCensus.

UK surname

Wiper

An occupational surname derived from someone who worked as a wiper or cleaner of surfaces.

In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Wiper surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, up from #18,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Bothwell and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Preston and Inverness West Rural.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wiper is 254 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 105.5%.

1881 census count

110

Ranked #18,695

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

2009

254 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wiper had 110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 176 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Wiper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wiper surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wiper 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 119 #18,393
1881 historical 110 #18,695
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 176 #16,401
1911 historical 169 #16,564
1997 modern 224 #16,392
1998 modern 234 #16,404
1999 modern 238 #16,308
2000 modern 232 #16,562
2001 modern 225 #16,664
2002 modern 223 #17,099
2003 modern 231 #16,504
2004 modern 233 #16,471
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 237 #16,334
2007 modern 240 #16,392
2008 modern 238 #16,640
2009 modern 254 #16,230
2010 modern 248 #16,886
2011 modern 232 #17,481
2012 modern 232 #17,401
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 242 #17,285
2015 modern 235 #17,530
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Wipers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Bothwell, Newcastle All Saints, Thornhill and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Preston, Inverness West Rural, Kirklees and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Thornhill Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 035 Wakefield
2 Preston 002 Preston
3 Inverness West Rural Highland
4 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
5 Barrow-in-Furness 007 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wiper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wiper

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Wiper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wiper household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Wiper is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Wiper is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wiper falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wiper

The surname Wiper has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have first emerged in the northern counties, including Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it has primarily been found. It is likely that Wiper is an occupational surname, derived from the Middle English word "wiper," which referred to a person who designed and wove cloth, particularly of wool. The name could also relate to the Old English words "weopere" or "weofere," meaning a weaver or cloth-maker.

The first known references to the surname Wiper appear in English parish records and tax rolls from the 14th century. One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in the Poll Tax records of 1379, where a John Wiper was recorded in Yorkshire. The surname was often associated with textile-producing areas, which were economically significant during the medieval period.

Throughout history, various spellings of the name Wiper have been recorded, including Whiper, Wypper, and Wypere. These variations illustrate the phonetic spelling practices of centuries past and reflect regional dialects.

One of the significant bearers of the surname was Richard Wiper, born in Yorkshire around 1450. He was known to be a prominent weaver and cloth merchant in his local community, contributing to the thriving textile industry. Another noteworthy individual was Elizabeth Wiper, born in 1603 in Lancashire, who was known to have maintained the family business after the death of her husband, illustrating the enduring nature of the family's trade.

In the 18th century, Thomas Wiper, born in 1738, migrated to London, where he became a successful merchant. He established trade connections that helped expand the family business beyond the textile industry, a testament to the evolving nature of commercial practices during the Industrial Revolution.

In the early 19th century, another prominent figure was William Wiper, born in 1802, a noted philanthropist and local benefactor in Lancashire. He established schools and charitable institutions, contributing to the welfare and education of the underprivileged in his community.

Lastly, Sarah Wiper, born in 1841 in Yorkshire, became a renowned poet and author. Her literary works often celebrated the working-class life and traditions of the northern counties, highlighting the cultural richness of her heritage.

The Wiper surname, with its deep-rooted connections to the textile industry and its social contributions over generations, reflects a rich historical tapestry. Each bearer of the name has helped shape its legacy, intertwining their personal stories with the broader historical narrative of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wiper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wiper 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. Yorkshire leads with 45 Wipers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.27x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 45 4.27x
Westmorland 19 81.34x
Northumberland 15 9.48x
Durham 14 4.43x
Lancashire 9 0.71x
Ayrshire 2 2.51x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.49x
Denbighshire 1 2.49x
Leicestershire 1 0.85x
Midlothian 1 0.70x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Flockton in Yorkshire leads with 12 Wipers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2790.70x.

Place Total Index
Flockton 12 2790.70x
Nether Graveship 10 4545.45x
Kendal 9 210.28x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 84.66x
Thornhill 8 260.59x
Shitlington 6 550.46x
Bowling 5 47.94x
Morley 5 91.24x
West Auckland 5 431.03x
Westgate 5 51.02x
Broughton In Salford 4 34.69x
Lepton 4 363.64x
Gateshead 3 12.67x
Lancaster 3 39.95x
Bishop Auckland 2 47.17x
Dalry 2 53.48x
Framwellgate 2 106.95x
Gildersome 2 157.48x
Horbury 2 108.70x
Longbenton 2 29.85x
Wolsingham 2 69.44x
Blackburn 1 2.98x
Chesterton 1 48.08x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.75x
Melton Mowbray 1 47.17x
Mirfield 1 17.30x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.70x
Poulton Barre 1 69.44x
Wrexham Regis 1 33.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 9
Jane 6
Mary 4
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 3
Eliza 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Christiana 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Georgianne 1
Hanna 1
Hannah 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Pheby 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 6
George 5
Joseph 4
Henry 3
James 3
Joe 3
Robert 3
Charles 2
Thomas 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Ben 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Jonathan 1
Mary 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Rd. 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Wilson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wiper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wiper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Wiper surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wiper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Wiper a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Wiper surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from someone who worked as a wiper or cleaner of surfaces.

What does the Wiper map show?

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