NameCensus.

UK surname

Wolff

A surname of German origin meaning "wolf," likely referring to a person with wolf-like characteristics or a wolf hunter.

In the 1881 census there were 331 people recorded with the Wolff surname, ranking it #9,071 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 686, ranked #7,823, up from #9,071 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Barnet and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wolff is 733 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.3%.

1881 census count

331

Ranked #9,071

Modern count

686

2016, ranked #7,823

Peak year

2014

733 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wolff had 331 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,071 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 686 in 2016, ranked #7,823.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 551 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Wolff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wolff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wolff 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 177 #13,265
1881 historical 331 #9,071
1891 historical 473 #7,758
1901 historical 513 #7,901
1911 historical 551 #7,274
1997 modern 609 #8,057
1998 modern 632 #8,086
1999 modern 638 #8,074
2000 modern 629 #8,150
2001 modern 608 #8,220
2002 modern 667 #7,794
2003 modern 670 #7,656
2004 modern 675 #7,621
2005 modern 671 #7,593
2006 modern 665 #7,678
2007 modern 682 #7,590
2008 modern 694 #7,538
2009 modern 686 #7,759
2010 modern 691 #7,858
2011 modern 720 #7,530
2012 modern 709 #7,534
2013 modern 721 #7,570
2014 modern 733 #7,519
2015 modern 712 #7,623
2016 modern 686 #7,823

Geography

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Where Wolffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and St John Hampstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Barnet, Kensington and Chelsea and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St John Hampstead London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 009 Mendip
2 Mendip 010 Mendip
3 Barnet 033 Barnet
4 Kensington and Chelsea 007 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Kingston upon Hull 018 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wolff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wolff

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

Wolff 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

Wolff falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wolff

The surname Wolff originates from Germany, where it was derived from the Old German word "wolf", meaning the wild animal. It emerged as a surname during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century.

Wolff was a common surname in various regions of Germany, particularly in northern and central areas. It is believed to have been originally an occupational name or a nickname referring to someone with wolf-like characteristics or behavior. In some cases, it may have also been given to someone who lived near a place associated with wolves.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wolff can be found in the Bavarian town of Landshut, where a certain Hainricus Wolph was mentioned in a document dated 1285. Another early record comes from the city of Regensburg, where a man named Chunradus Wolff was documented in 1315.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname appeared in various historical records and documents across Germany. For example, a certain Heinrich Wolff was mentioned in the records of the city of Nuremberg in 1363. In the city of Cologne, a man named Johan Wolff was recorded in 1447.

Some notable individuals with the surname Wolff throughout history include:

1. Christian Wolff (1679-1754), a German philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of metaphysics and epistemology.

2. Kaspar Friedrich Wolff (1733-1794), a German anatomist and physiologist who is considered a pioneer in the study of embryology.

3. Wilhelm Wolff (1809-1864), a German composer and conductor who composed several operas and other works.

4. Albert Wolff (1835-1891), a French journalist and writer who was a prominent figure in Parisian literary circles during the 19th century.

5. Max Wolff (1856-1924), a German painter and etcher who was known for his landscape and architectural works.

The surname Wolff also had variations in spelling and regional variations, such as Wolfe, Wolf, and Wulff, among others. Additionally, some place names in Germany, such as Wolfenbüttel and Wolfsburg, may have been derived from or influenced by the surname Wolff.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wolff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wolff 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 127 Wolffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.95x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 127 3.95x
Surrey 44 2.81x
Lancashire 32 0.84x
Yorkshire 19 0.60x
Cheshire 16 2.25x
Northumberland 16 3.34x
Gloucestershire 15 2.38x
Kent 15 1.37x
Essex 11 1.73x
Hampshire 7 1.06x
Midlothian 6 1.39x
Kincardineshire 5 12.76x
Oxfordshire 3 1.51x
Devon 2 0.30x
Glamorgan 2 0.36x
Lanarkshire 2 0.19x
Sussex 2 0.37x
Dorset 1 0.47x
Herefordshire 1 0.76x
Somerset 1 0.19x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 28 Wolffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.98x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 28 9.98x
Bethnal Green London 19 13.59x
Hampstead London 15 29.92x
Hale 11 448.98x
Whitechapel London 11 34.67x
Hornsey 10 24.56x
Islington London 10 3.21x
Kensington London 9 5.03x
St Pancras London 9 3.47x
Westgate 9 30.34x
Paddington London 8 6.76x
West Derby 8 7.16x
Clerkenwell London 7 9.21x
Everton 7 5.75x
Byker 6 25.34x
Clifton 6 18.80x
Leyton 6 54.79x
Rawdon 6 159.57x
Bervie 5 215.52x
Holy Trinity 5 6.52x
Leeds 5 2.78x
Newington 5 4.20x
North Leith 5 25.05x
St Giles In Fields 5 45.05x
West Ham 5 3.56x
Westminster St James 5 15.11x
Broughton In Salford 4 11.45x
Cheltenham 4 8.21x
Mile End Old Town 4 7.87x
Moss Side 4 19.90x
St George In East 4 18.26x
Battersea 3 2.53x
Deal 3 32.02x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 3 25.97x
Hackney London 3 1.66x
Lewisham 3 5.12x
Portsea 3 2.32x
Bowdon 2 70.92x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.30x
Clapham 2 4.97x
Dover St Mary Virgin 2 18.81x
Dunham Massey 2 91.74x
Gelligaer 2 15.63x
Ilkley 2 38.39x
Limehouse London 2 5.66x
Liverpool 2 0.86x
Oxford St Clement 2 39.84x
Southampton St Mary 2 4.82x
Walton On Thames 2 27.78x
Wigan 2 3.75x
Woolwich 2 4.93x
Ardwick 1 2.90x
Barony 1 0.38x
Birmingham 1 0.37x
Camberwell 1 0.49x
Chelsea London 1 1.03x
Chislehurst 1 16.98x
Govan 1 0.39x
Greenwich 1 1.95x
Hereford St John 1 66.23x
Holy Rood 1 75.19x
Layton With Warbreck 1 7.13x
Lee 1 6.27x
Leith South 1 169.49x
Lewes St Michael 1 92.59x
Plumstead 1 2.73x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.94x
Richmond 1 4.55x
St George Hanover 1 2.38x
St Lawrence 1 13.25x
St Marylebone London 1 0.58x
Tonge 1 12.48x
Tormoham 1 3.53x
Wandsworth 1 3.23x
Wardington 1 147.06x
Washington 1 107.53x
West Bromwich 1 1.61x
Westminster St John 1 2.55x
Worcester St Peter 1 12.56x
Yate 1 72.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 8
Alice 6
Ann 5
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Eliza 4
Lucy 4
Sophia 4
Annie 3
Clara 3
Esther 3
Marie 3
Rosa 3
Bertha 2
Elise 2
Emma 2
Ethel 2
Fannie 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Willemina 2
Amy 1
Andra 1
Augusta 1
Aurian 1
Bellina 1
Bertch 1
Deborah 1
Dora 1
Elfrida 1
Ellen 1
Else 1
Emily 1
Grace 1
H.E. 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Hedig 1
Helena 1
Henritta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 10
John 9
William 9
George 6
Edward 5
Henry 5
Albert 4
Ernest 4
Samuel 4
Arnold 3
Herman 3
Louis 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
August 2
Benjamin 2
Harry 2
James 2
Jas. 2
Lewis 2
Maurice 2
Percy 2
Robert 2
Rudolf 2
Thomas 2
Adolph 1
Adolphie 1
Barnett 1
Bennie 1
Bernhard 1
David 1
Eliazar 1
Ellis 1
Elvia 1
Emil. 1
Fairning 1
Ferdinand 1
Frederick 1
Friederick 1
Godfrey 1
Hermann 1
Hubert 1
Hugo 1
Hymen 1
J.Stanley 1
Jacob 1
Jonas 1
Joseph 1
Y. 1

FAQ

Wolff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wolff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 331 people were recorded with the Wolff surname. That placed it at #9,071 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wolff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 686 in 2016. That gives Wolff a modern rank of #7,823.

What does the Wolff surname mean?

A surname of German origin meaning "wolf," likely referring to a person with wolf-like characteristics or a wolf hunter.

What does the Wolff map show?

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