UK surname
A locational surname denoting someone who lived by a large wooded area or forest.
In the 1881 census there were 148 people recorded with the Wollard surname, ranking it #15,611 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #15,611 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Mildenhall, Wickhambrook and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wollard is 190 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.2%.
1881 census count
148
Ranked #15,611
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1901
190 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wollard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wollard surname density by area, 1881 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 | 122 | #14,966 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 148 | #15,611 |
| 1891 | historical | 156 | #17,842 |
| 1901 | historical | 190 | #15,634 |
| 1911 | historical | 138 | #18,811 |
| 1997 | modern | 21 | #35,692 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 29 | #35,031 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 23 | #35,786 |
| 2005 | modern | 23 | #35,924 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Mildenhall, Wickhambrook, London parishes, Bentley and Barking. 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 | Mildenhall | Suffolk |
| 2 | Wickhambrook | Suffolk |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Bentley | Suffolk |
| 5 | Barking | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wollard 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 Wollard, 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 Wollard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wollard 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, Wollard 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 Wollard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wollard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wollard is of English origin, first coming into prominence in the medieval period. The name likely has its roots in the counties of East Anglia, particularly Norfolk and Suffolk. The earliest form of the name appears to be derived from the Old English words "wulf," meaning wolf, and "heard," meaning strong or brave. The combination suggests a meaning akin to "strong wolf" or "brave wolf."
Historical references to the name Wollard can be traced to old English records and manuscripts. One of the earliest mentions is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a variant spelling, Wulfheard, is listed. This suggests that the name was established enough by the 11th century to be recorded in William the Conqueror's great survey.
The name appears in various forms over the centuries. By the 14th century, the surname had evolved to Wollard, and the name appears in numerous parish records, evidencing its spread and establishment in various regions. In 1379, a John Wollard is recorded in the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire, indicating the northward migration of the surname.
One notable bearer of the name Wollard was Richard Wollard, a landholder mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in the early 15th century. His records, dating to 1415, illustrate the social standing of some members of the Wollard family during this period.
In the 17th century, the name becomes more prominent in public records. William Wollard, born in 1620, is documented as being involved in the English Civil War, fighting on the side of the Parliamentarians. His contributions are noted in local history records, which describe his role in the Battle of Edgehill in 1642.
Another historical figure is Thomas Wollard, who was an influential merchant in the town of Bury St Edmunds during the early 18th century. Born in 1681 and dying in 1735, Thomas Wollard's commercial activities are recorded in various trade directories and municipal documents of the time.
Moving into the 19th century, Mary Wollard, born in 1802 and deceased in 1865, gained recognition for her philanthropic endeavors in Norfolk. Her contributions to the establishment of local schools and charities are well-documented in regional histories.
In addition to individual records, the Wollard surname is attached to several place names in England. Locations such as Wollard’s Farm in Norfolk hint at historical landholdings associated with the family. Variants of the surname, including Woollard and Wullard, also appear in historical deeds and charters from the same regions.
Though not as common today, the surname Wollard has a rich historical tapestry, woven with strong ties to English medieval and early modern history, marked by bravery, landownership, and social contributions spanning several centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wollard 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 27 Wollards recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridgeshire | 27 | 29.53x |
| Middlesex | 27 | 1.87x |
| Suffolk | 27 | 15.36x |
| Surrey | 17 | 2.42x |
| Essex | 13 | 4.56x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 0.70x |
| Hertfordshire | 8 | 8.04x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.29x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 1.35x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.41x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 0.90x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 1.47x |
| Sussex | 2 | 0.82x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.12x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.53x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wickhambrook in Suffolk leads with 9 Wollards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1363.64x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wollard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 6 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Louisa | 4 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Amelia | 3 |
| Caroline | 3 |
| Charlotte | 3 |
| Edith | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Cecelia | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Susannah | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Annet | 1 |
| Bessie | 1 |
| C. | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Hariett | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Helenor | 1 |
| J.E. | 1 |
| J.P. | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Kathleen | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Maryann | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Polly | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Thirza | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wollard 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 Wollard households.
FAQ
In 1881, 148 people were recorded with the Wollard surname. That placed it at #15,611 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Wollard a modern rank of #36,760.
A locational surname denoting someone who lived by a large wooded area or forest.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wollard 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.