NameCensus.

UK surname

Wisbey

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 476 people recorded with the Wisbey surname, ranking it #7,022 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 756, ranked #7,240, down from #7,022 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, London parishes and Langley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Uttlesford and Maldon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wisbey is 818 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.8%.

1881 census count

476

Ranked #7,022

Modern count

756

2016, ranked #7,240

Peak year

2000

818 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wisbey had 476 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,022 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 756 in 2016, ranked #7,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 704 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wisbey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wisbey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wisbey 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 238 #9,120
1861 historical 226 #10,797
1881 historical 476 #7,022
1891 historical 621 #6,225
1901 historical 698 #6,305
1911 historical 704 #6,060
1997 modern 766 #6,768
1998 modern 784 #6,871
1999 modern 803 #6,768
2000 modern 818 #6,657
2001 modern 782 #6,763
2002 modern 809 #6,712
2003 modern 770 #6,859
2004 modern 770 #6,880
2005 modern 729 #7,107
2006 modern 706 #7,301
2007 modern 717 #7,294
2008 modern 718 #7,335
2009 modern 736 #7,358
2010 modern 745 #7,415
2011 modern 734 #7,440
2012 modern 742 #7,288
2013 modern 757 #7,289
2014 modern 759 #7,302
2015 modern 748 #7,315
2016 modern 756 #7,240

Geography

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Where Wisbeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, London parishes, Langley, Clavering and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Uttlesford and Maldon. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Langley Essex
4 Clavering Essex
5 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 010 South Cambridgeshire
2 Uttlesford 004 Uttlesford
3 South Cambridgeshire 002 South Cambridgeshire
4 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
5 Maldon 004 Maldon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wisbey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wisbey

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Wisbey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wisbey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Wisbey 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

Wisbey is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wisbey falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wisbey

The surname Wisbey traces its roots back to England, specifically to the medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from the village of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, England. The name 'Wisbech' itself comes from the Old English words 'wisc,' meaning 'marsh,' and 'bece,' meaning 'stream,' collectively referring to a 'stream in a marshy place.'

Historically, the Wisbey surname appears in various old records and manuscripts. One of the earliest references can be found in the Assize Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dating back to the 13th century, where the name John de Wisbech is listed. The presence of 'de' suggests geographic origin, directly linking individuals with the village of Wisbech.

Another historical document that references the surname is the Subsidy Rolls. For example, a record from 1327 lists a Robert de Wysbech, who resided in the same region. This different spelling indicates the variability in medieval English orthography, with 'Wysbech' eventually simplifying to Wisbey over time.

Among the early notable individuals bearing the surname Wisbey was Thomas Wisbey, who lived during the 16th century. Born around 1540, he is recorded as having been involved in local governance in Cambridgeshire. His contributions provide a glimpse into the family's social standing during that period.

George Wisbey, another significant figure, was born in 1656 and was an influential landowner in East Anglia. His role as a justice of the peace underlined the prominence of the Wisbey family in regional affairs during the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, Samuel Wisbey made notable strides in the field of agriculture. Born in 1723, he was known for his innovations in farming practices, contributing to the agrarian history of Cambridgeshire. His efforts in land management and crop rotation were well-documented in local historical records.

Moving into the 19th century, Reverend John Wisbey was a prominent clergyman, born in 1802. His work in the Anglican Church spanned several parishes in Cambridgeshire, and he published numerous theological texts contributing to religious education at the time.

Lastly, Clara Wisbey, born in 1884, was a writer and social activist. She championed the rights of women and the poor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her writings and campaigns brought significant attention to social justice issues of her time.

The surname Wisbey carries with it a rich historical tapestry linked to the village of Wisbech, showcasing a legacy interwoven with governance, land management, religion, and social activism over centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wisbey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wisbey 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. Essex leads with 186 Wisbeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.25x.

County Total Index
Essex 186 20.25x
Cambridgeshire 106 35.97x
Middlesex 93 2.00x
Hertfordshire 34 10.60x
Surrey 25 1.10x
Norfolk 12 1.68x
Yorkshire 6 0.13x
Kent 3 0.19x
Derbyshire 2 0.27x
Hampshire 2 0.21x
Suffolk 2 0.35x
Bedfordshire 1 0.42x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.36x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.08x
Morayshire 1 1.38x
Sussex 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrewthe Less in Cambridgeshire leads with 25 Wisbeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.25x.

Place Total Index
St Andrewthe Less 25 74.25x
Arkesden 24 3582.09x
Langley 20 3125.00x
Nuthampstead 20 5714.29x
Sawston 18 633.80x
Wicken Bonant 17 6538.46x
Duxford 16 1300.81x
Edmonton 13 34.68x
Fairsted 13 2826.09x
Ickleton 13 1226.42x
Grays Thurrock 11 128.81x
Great Horkesley 11 873.02x
Hockwold Cum Wilton 11 901.64x
St Pancras London 11 2.94x
Chelmsford 10 63.45x
East Donyland 10 452.49x
St Marylebone London 10 4.03x
Islington London 9 2.00x
Little Sampford 9 1636.36x
Boxted 8 606.06x
Camberwell 8 2.69x
Mile End Old Town 8 10.89x
Thaxted 8 262.30x
Haslingfield 7 583.33x
Stapleford 7 786.52x
Bromley London 6 5.86x
Colchester St Giles 6 66.08x
St Giles Cripplegate 6 97.09x
Lambeth 5 1.23x
Lingfield 5 113.12x
Little Shelford 5 609.76x
Meesden 5 1666.67x
Mile End New Town 5 78.74x
Newington 5 2.91x
Shadwell London 5 38.40x
Stanway 5 310.56x
Ugglebarnby 5 806.45x
Clavering 4 240.96x
Kensington London 4 1.55x
Paddington London 4 2.34x
Tottenham 4 5.40x
Barking 3 11.16x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 3 23.35x
Hornchurch 3 66.67x
St Marythe Less 3 167.60x
Stansted Mountfitchet 3 129.31x
All Saints Cambridge 2 96.62x
Bishop Stortford 2 18.67x
Clapham 2 3.44x
Hackney London 2 0.77x
Hammersmith London 2 1.74x
Harston 2 160.00x
Hatfield Peverel 2 101.01x
Henham 2 152.67x
Ilkeston 2 9.79x
Maidstone 2 4.23x
Royston 2 73.26x
Saffron Walden 2 20.62x
St Martin In Fields 2 7.18x
Watton 2 152.67x
West Ham 2 0.99x
Woodford St Mary 2 192.31x
Bedford St Paul 1 6.05x
Bingley 1 3.41x
Birmingham 1 0.26x
Colchester Holy Trinity 1 49.02x
Elgin 1 7.11x
Fletton 1 33.90x
Great Hormead 1 120.48x
Great Sampford 1 101.01x
Hambleden 1 41.67x
Heigham 1 2.60x
Hinxton 1 181.82x
Margate St John Baptist 1 3.44x
Nayland 1 69.44x
Ore 1 17.12x
St Marythe Great 1 104.17x
Tolleshunt Knights 1 136.99x
Witham 1 21.14x
Wormingford 1 131.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 18
Eliza 16
Emily 15
Emma 11
Ann 9
Alice 7
Jane 7
Edith 6
Lucy 6
Harriet 5
Ada 4
Annie 4
Hannah 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Florence 3
Kate 3
Lydia 3
Martha 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Cecilia 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Angy 1
Blanche 1
Carrie 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Florew 1
Frances 1
Judith 1
Lilian 1
Lucie 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Wisbey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wisbey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 476 people were recorded with the Wisbey surname. That placed it at #7,022 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wisbey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 756 in 2016. That gives Wisbey a modern rank of #7,240.

What does the Wisbey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Wisbey map show?

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