NameCensus.

UK surname

Wolf

A surname derived from the animal, often used to denote a fierce or cunning person.

In the 1881 census there were 588 people recorded with the Wolf surname, ranking it #5,934 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,080, ranked #5,407, up from #5,934 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Barnet and Monmouthshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wolf is 1,080 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.7%.

1881 census count

588

Ranked #5,934

Modern count

1,080

2016, ranked #5,407

Peak year

2016

1,080 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wolf had 588 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,934 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,080 in 2016, ranked #5,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 611 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Wolf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wolf surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wolf 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 575 #4,429
1861 historical 510 #5,127
1881 historical 588 #5,934
1891 historical 611 #6,291
1901 historical 573 #7,321
1911 historical 548 #7,311
1997 modern 736 #6,974
1998 modern 793 #6,800
1999 modern 794 #6,844
2000 modern 793 #6,822
2001 modern 777 #6,796
2002 modern 804 #6,747
2003 modern 783 #6,774
2004 modern 807 #6,626
2005 modern 806 #6,581
2006 modern 858 #6,271
2007 modern 856 #6,344
2008 modern 875 #6,263
2009 modern 928 #6,103
2010 modern 961 #6,064
2011 modern 973 #5,939
2012 modern 981 #5,826
2013 modern 1,021 #5,731
2014 modern 1,038 #5,684
2015 modern 1,041 #5,617
2016 modern 1,080 #5,407

Geography

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Where Wolfs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel, Newcastle All Saints and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea, Barnet, Monmouthshire, Salford and Thanet. 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 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 001 Swansea
2 Barnet 037 Barnet
3 Monmouthshire 007 Monmouthshire
4 Salford 010 Salford
5 Thanet 005 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wolf

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wolf

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wolf, 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 Wolf surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Wolf 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, Wolf 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

Wolf 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

Wolf falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wolf 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Wolf

The surname Wolf is of German origin and has its roots in the Old German word "wolf" which means "wolf" in English. It likely originated as a nickname for someone with wolf-like qualities or characteristics, such as strength, ferocity, or a keen sense of hunting. The name can be traced back to the early Middle Ages in Germany.

The Wolf surname is found in various records and manuscripts throughout German history. One of the earliest known references is in the Codex Traditionum Corbeiensium, a medieval cartulary from the Corvey Abbey in modern-day North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, dating back to the 9th century. The name is also present in the Chronica Regia Coloniensis, a medieval chronicle from the city of Cologne, from the 12th century.

The earliest recorded individual with the Wolf surname is thought to be Gottfried Wolf, a German monk and chronicler who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He is known for his work, the Chronica Monasterii Husburgensis, a chronicle of the Huyseburg Abbey in Saxony-Anhalt.

Another notable figure with the Wolf surname is Christian Wolf, a German philosopher and mathematician who lived from 1679 to 1754. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and is considered a pioneer in the development of calculus.

In the literary world, one of the most famous individuals with the Wolf surname is Thomas Wolf, a German writer and playwright who lived from 1888 to 1963. His most renowned work is the novel "Der Untertan" (The Patrioteer), a satirical critique of German society.

The Wolf surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany. For example, the town of Wolfenbüttel in Lower Saxony is believed to have derived its name from the Old German word "Wulferesbuttle," meaning "the dwelling of the Wolves."

Other notable individuals with the Wolf surname include Hugo Wolf, an Austrian composer who lived from 1860 to 1903, and Friedrich Wolf, a German writer and communist who lived from 1888 to 1953.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wolf families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wolf 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 187 Wolfs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.30x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 187 3.30x
Lancashire 60 0.89x
Northumberland 45 5.34x
Yorkshire 41 0.73x
Cambridgeshire 31 8.64x
Kent 29 1.50x
Surrey 22 0.80x
Hampshire 16 1.38x
Leicestershire 15 2.39x
Monmouthshire 12 2.93x
Nottinghamshire 11 1.44x
Buckinghamshire 9 2.63x
Derbyshire 8 0.90x
Essex 8 0.72x
Lanarkshire 8 0.44x
Lincolnshire 7 0.77x
Staffordshire 7 0.37x
Warwickshire 7 0.49x
West Lothian 7 8.20x
Cheshire 5 0.40x
Hertfordshire 5 1.28x
Sussex 5 0.52x
Glamorgan 4 0.41x
Gloucestershire 4 0.36x
Northamptonshire 4 0.75x
Somerset 4 0.44x
Devon 3 0.25x
Rutland 3 7.21x
Berkshire 2 0.47x
Midlothian 2 0.26x
Argyllshire 1 0.63x
Dorset 1 0.27x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.66x
Durham 1 0.06x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.77x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.56x
Perthshire 1 0.39x
Westmorland 1 0.80x
Worcestershire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Byker in Northumberland leads with 38 Wolfs recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.17x.

Place Total Index
Byker 38 91.17x
Islington London 19 3.46x
Mile End Old Town 17 19.00x
Bethnal Green London 14 5.69x
Liverpool 13 3.18x
St George Bloomsbury 13 39.98x
Ightham 12 493.83x
Mile End New Town 12 155.04x
Markfield 11 352.56x
St Marylebone London 11 3.64x
Bromley London 10 8.02x
Kensington London 9 2.86x
Aylesbury 8 52.70x
Hackney London 8 2.52x
Poplar London 8 7.48x
St Giles Cambridge 8 172.41x
Bathgate 7 37.78x
Cheetham 7 13.96x
Gorbals 7 64.34x
Huddersfield 7 8.56x
Newport 7 35.81x
Nottingham St Mary 7 3.54x
St George In East 7 18.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 3.45x
Whitechapel London 7 12.53x
St Luke London 6 6.60x
St Pancras London 6 1.32x
Stretham 6 233.46x
Accrington 5 8.18x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 4.68x
Elswick 5 7.43x
Hasland 5 55.37x
Histon 5 265.96x
Lambeth 5 1.01x
Portsea 5 2.20x
Shoreditch London 5 2.04x
St Botolph Aldgate 5 64.60x
Thornton In Fylde 5 33.99x
Beckingham 4 597.01x
Belgrave 4 28.21x
Blackley 4 33.93x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 3.82x
Farnborough 4 32.79x
Farnworth 4 9.93x
Hampstead London 4 4.53x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 11.07x
Hornsey 4 5.58x
Keston 4 277.78x
Ormesby 4 26.51x
Paddington London 4 1.92x
Quy 4 588.24x
Saddleworth 4 9.23x
Sculcoates 4 4.49x
Battersea 3 1.44x
Chatham 3 5.64x
Childerley 3 3333.33x
Churchover 3 476.19x
Colne 3 14.98x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 2.63x
Great Wymondley 3 576.92x
Greenwich 3 3.33x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 14.71x
Hollingworth 3 58.14x
Leeds 3 0.95x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 3 37.41x
St George Hanover 3 4.06x
Uppingham 3 60.48x
Whittington 3 24.43x
Abergavenny 2 13.04x
Birmingham 2 0.42x
Cottingham 2 108.70x
Newington 2 0.96x
Radford 2 5.15x
Snenton 2 6.66x
Stoke Damerel 2 2.42x
Tickhill 2 55.87x
Tottington Lower End 2 6.26x
West Ham 2 0.81x
Wimbledon 2 6.45x
Wortley In Bramley 2 4.50x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Wolf surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wolf surname in 1881?

In 1881, 588 people were recorded with the Wolf surname. That placed it at #5,934 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wolf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,080 in 2016. That gives Wolf a modern rank of #5,407.

What does the Wolf surname mean?

A surname derived from the animal, often used to denote a fierce or cunning person.

What does the Wolf map show?

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