NameCensus.

UK surname

Wirth

An occupational surname of German origin referring to an innkeeper, from the Middle High German "wirt" meaning "innkeeper" or "landlord."

In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Wirth surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 174, ranked #21,466, up from #24,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St George the Martyr and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wirral, Forest of Dean and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wirth is 185 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 176.2%.

1881 census count

63

Ranked #24,711

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

2012

185 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wirth had 63 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016, ranked #21,466.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 120 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Wirth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wirth surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wirth 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 32 #29,944
1881 historical 63 #24,711
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 86 #24,508
1911 historical 120 #20,447
1997 modern 167 #19,722
1998 modern 178 #19,452
1999 modern 181 #19,380
2000 modern 183 #19,239
2001 modern 182 #19,039
2002 modern 175 #19,902
2003 modern 169 #20,092
2004 modern 160 #20,926
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 171 #20,131
2007 modern 171 #20,387
2008 modern 164 #21,137
2009 modern 177 #20,560
2010 modern 182 #20,662
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 185 #20,223
2013 modern 184 #20,643
2014 modern 179 #21,186
2015 modern 176 #21,291
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

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Where Wirths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St George the Martyr, St Marylebone and Newnham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wirral, Forest of Dean, Pembrokeshire, Hackney and South Northamptonshire. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Newnham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wirral 011 Wirral
2 Forest of Dean 002 Forest of Dean
3 Pembrokeshire 016 Pembrokeshire
4 Hackney 008 Hackney
5 South Northamptonshire 008 South Northamptonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wirth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wirth

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Wirth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Wirth 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wirth 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

Wirth 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

Wirth falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wirth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Wirth

The surname Wirth originated in Germany and is derived from the German word "wirt", meaning innkeeper or host. It first appeared in the 12th century in the regions of Bavaria and Swabia, where many inns and taverns were located along trade routes.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, such as Henricus Wirt, mentioned in a document from 1243 in the town of Nuremberg. Similar spellings like Wirth, Wyrth, and Wuerth were also common in medieval records.

One notable bearer of the name was Johannes Wirth, a 15th-century German mathematician and astronomer born in Nuremberg around 1437. He is known for his work on planetary motion and the calculation of eclipses.

In the 16th century, the name Wirth appeared in the Duchy of Württemberg, where a village called Wirth existed. This place name likely contributed to the prevalence of the surname in that region.

Another significant figure was Johann Georg Wirth, a German philosopher and theologian born in 1654 in Nuremberg. He wrote extensively on metaphysics and the philosophy of religion.

The surname Wirth also has a long history in Switzerland, particularly in the canton of Zurich. One notable Swiss bearer was Max Wirth, a 19th-century writer and journalist born in 1822 in Winterthur. He was known for his travel writings and his advocacy for Swiss nationalism.

In the 20th century, the name gained prominence in the field of computer science with the work of Niklaus Wirth, a Swiss computer scientist born in 1934 in Winterthur. He is credited with developing several programming languages, including Pascal and Modula-2, and has made significant contributions to compiler design and software engineering.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wirth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wirth 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 26 Wirths recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 26 4.23x
Kent 9 4.29x
Lancashire 9 1.23x
Warwickshire 6 3.87x
Yorkshire 6 0.99x
Surrey 4 1.34x
Durham 2 1.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 11 Wirths recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.20x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 11 32.20x
Liverpool 8 18.07x
Islington London 7 11.75x
Birmingham 6 11.62x
Deptford St Paul 6 37.11x
Hackney London 4 11.61x
Holy Trinity 4 27.32x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 32.36x
Lewisham 3 26.83x
Barrow In Furness 1 10.08x
Bishopwearmouth 1 6.37x
Eston 1 75.19x
St Anne Soho London 1 28.49x
St George Martyr 1 96.15x
Sunderland 1 30.96x
Tottenham 1 10.22x
Walesby 1 1666.67x
Westminster St James 1 15.82x
York All Sts North 1 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 2
Fredericka 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Philipine 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Elise 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Francess 1
Franziska 1
Jennie 1
Katharina 1
Louey 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Maud 1
Pauline 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1
Zina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
William 4
Frederick 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Canrat 1
Carl 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
George 1
Gustav 1
Henery 1
Hermann 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Johan 1
Joseph 1
Mozart 1
Oswald 1
Sharl 1
Valentine 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 Wirth households.

FAQ

Wirth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wirth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Wirth surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wirth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016. That gives Wirth a modern rank of #21,466.

What does the Wirth surname mean?

An occupational surname of German origin referring to an innkeeper, from the Middle High German "wirt" meaning "innkeeper" or "landlord."

What does the Wirth map show?

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