NameCensus.

UK surname

Wolfson

A patronymic surname derived from the given name "Wolf," indicating the "son of Wolf."

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Wolfson surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, up from #30,215 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Manchester and Bedwelty. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill, Knowsley and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wolfson is 249 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 745.8%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

1999

249 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wolfson had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 184 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Wolfson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wolfson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wolfson 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1891 historical 50 #30,253
1901 historical 132 #19,469
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 228 #16,211
1998 modern 242 #16,037
1999 modern 249 #15,844
2000 modern 240 #16,186
2001 modern 231 #16,365
2002 modern 222 #17,147
2003 modern 236 #16,236
2004 modern 240 #16,144
2005 modern 223 #16,938
2006 modern 215 #17,441
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 216 #17,758
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 226 #17,942
2011 modern 216 #18,321
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 214 #18,671
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 213 #18,769
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Wolfsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Manchester, Bedwelty, West Derby and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill, Knowsley, Westminster and Barnet. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill East Renfrewshire
2 Knowsley 005 Knowsley
3 Westminster 007 Westminster
4 Barnet 016 Barnet
5 Westminster 011 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wolfson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wolfson

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Wolfson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Wolfson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Wolfson is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wolfson 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

Wolfson falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wolfson

The surname Wolfson originates from Germany, where it first emerged in the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is derived from the German words "wolf" and "sohn," meaning "son of the wolf." This name likely referred to someone who possessed wolf-like qualities or lived near a den of wolves.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wolfson can be found in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a famous illustrated world history published in 1493. This historical record mentions a "Hans Wolfson" from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria.

During the 16th century, the Wolfson name appeared in various town records across Germany, particularly in the regions of Saxony and Brandenburg. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Johann Wolfson (1532-1594), a prominent Lutheran theologian and author from Wittenberg.

As migration patterns evolved, the name spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and England. In the Netherlands, the surname was sometimes spelled as "Wolfsohn" or "Wolfzoon," reflecting the Dutch language's influence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Wolfson name in England dates back to the late 17th century. A certain William Wolfson (1655-1718) was a successful merchant and landowner in the county of Yorkshire.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, several notable figures bore the Wolfson surname. These include Isaac Wolfson (1786-1849), a influential rabbi and scholar from Poland, and Sir Isaac Wolfson (1816-1897), a British industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the steel industry.

In the 20th century, notable individuals with the Wolfson name include Sir Mark Wolfson (1912-2005), a British businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Wolfson Foundation, and Lord Leonard Wolfson (1927-2010), a successful entrepreneur and chairman of the Great Universal Stores retail chain.

While the Wolfson surname originated in Germany, it has since spread across the globe, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural influences of various communities over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wolfson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wolfson 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 6 Wolfsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 6 2.56x
Gloucestershire 5 10.90x
Monmouthshire 5 29.55x
Yorkshire 5 2.16x
Hampshire 1 2.09x
Hertfordshire 1 6.20x
Northumberland 1 2.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedwellty in Monmouthshire leads with 5 Wolfsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 167.22x.

Place Total Index
Bedwellty 5 167.22x
Clifton 5 215.52x
Leeds 5 38.20x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 5 1515.15x
Aldershot 1 62.11x
Elswick 1 35.97x
Hackney London 1 7.62x
St Ippollitts 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
A. 1
Amelia 1
Clara 1
Henrietta 1
Rebecca 1
S. 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
Arthur 1
Hyman 1
Jacob 1
Jay 1
Mark 1
Modbrey 1
Moss 1
Pase 1
Reuben 1
S. 1
Simon 1
Solomon 1
William 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 Wolfson households.

FAQ

Wolfson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wolfson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Wolfson surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wolfson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Wolfson a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Wolfson surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name "Wolf," indicating the "son of Wolf."

What does the Wolfson map show?

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