UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English word "wisce" meaning "bundle of willow twigs."
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Wish surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch and Lincoln St Martin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wish is 258 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.8%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1861
258 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wish surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wish surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 117 | #15,456 |
| 1861 | historical | 258 | #9,603 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 155 | #17,920 |
| 1901 | historical | 94 | #23,588 |
| 1911 | historical | 105 | #22,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 67 | #30,915 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 69 | #31,223 |
| 2000 | modern | 66 | #31,553 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 72 | #31,281 |
| 2004 | modern | 72 | #31,488 |
| 2005 | modern | 76 | #31,267 |
| 2006 | modern | 68 | #32,441 |
| 2007 | modern | 61 | #33,440 |
| 2008 | modern | 70 | #32,856 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 71 | #33,392 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 72 | #33,631 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 77 | #33,272 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch, Lincoln St Martin, Broad Clist and Clist Honiton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Lincoln St Martin | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Broad Clist | Devon |
| 5 | Clist Honiton | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wish surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wish, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wish household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wish is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wish is relatively rare and its origins are somewhat enigmatic, often leading to several intriguing theories about its etymology and historical presence. The surname appears to have origins rooted in the British Isles, specifically England and Scotland.
One of the earliest derivations of the surname Wish may be linked to the Old English word "wisc", which means a meadow or an area of marshland. This would suggest that the bearers of the name initially lived by or were associated with such landscape features. Another possible origin could be from the Old Norse word "veisla", which means a feast or banquet, leading to the derivation of the English surname Wast or Wase, closely related to Wish.
The surname Wish appears sporadically in historical records. One of the earliest documented occurrences is in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1178, where a certain Robert Wiss is mentioned. This indicates that variations of the name were in use during the medieval period.
In Scotland, the surname appears in the 14th century. Walter de Wish is recorded in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, documents listing the names of Scottish nobility and their pledges of allegiance to Edward I of England. This presence in Scotland suggests that the name had spread beyond its English origins fairly early on.
By the 16th century, the name appears more consistently in records. John Wish, born in 1524, served as a notable figure in the English parish records. In the following century, Edward Wish, born in 1610, made his mark as a landowner in rural England, reflecting the surname's presence among both common folk and the gentry.
The Wish surname continued to appear in historical documents through the centuries, including records from the 18th century. Thomas Wish, born in 1702, became known for his contributions to local governance in Kent, England. Another significant name bearer in the 19th century was Samuel Wish, born in 1825, who was known for his philanthropic activities in his community and contributing to the construction of the local parish church.
The name gradually diminished in frequency but still appears occasionally in genealogical records and historical texts. Though not linked to prominent figures of national importance, the surname Wish captures a fascinating snippet of historical linguistics and the migratory patterns of early English and Scottish populations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wish surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 27 Wishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.11x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 27 | 3.11x |
| Devon | 19 | 10.52x |
| Lincolnshire | 8 | 5.76x |
| Sussex | 8 | 5.47x |
| Wiltshire | 8 | 10.42x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.18x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.39x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.01x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 3.67x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 4.45x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.66x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broad Clist in Devon leads with 8 Wishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1290.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Clist | 8 | 1290.32x |
| Codford St Peter | 8 | 8888.89x |
| St Martin Lincoln | 8 | 620.16x |
| Hampstead London | 6 | 44.38x |
| Brighton | 5 | 16.94x |
| St George Hanover | 5 | 44.13x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 5.29x |
| Sowton | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Buckland In Dover | 3 | 306.12x |
| Hastings St Mary | 3 | 82.42x |
| Islington London | 3 | 3.57x |
| Kettering | 3 | 90.91x |
| Shoreditch London | 3 | 7.97x |
| Westminster St John | 3 | 28.38x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 7.65x |
| Exeter Alphington | 2 | 606.06x |
| Luton | 2 | 25.71x |
| Poplar London | 2 | 12.21x |
| St Giles Cripplegate | 2 | 173.91x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 5.74x |
| West Derby | 2 | 6.64x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.80x |
| Dewsbury | 1 | 11.34x |
| Exeter St Stephen | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Honiton | 1 | 100.00x |
| Llancarvan | 1 | 588.24x |
| Lympston | 1 | 312.50x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.43x |
| Tiverton | 1 | 32.15x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 13.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wish surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wish surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Wish households.
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Wish surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Wish a modern rank of #32,815.
A surname derived from the Old English word "wisce" meaning "bundle of willow twigs."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wish bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.