NameCensus.

UK surname

Wolstencroft

An English toponymic surname referring to someone residing near a clearing or enclosure of woodland.

In the 1881 census there were 1,173 people recorded with the Wolstencroft surname, ranking it #3,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 794, ranked #6,962, down from #3,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Salford and Hyndburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wolstencroft is 1,430 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 32.3%.

1881 census count

1,173

Ranked #3,433

Modern count

794

2016, ranked #6,962

Peak year

1901

1,430 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wolstencroft had 1,173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016, ranked #6,962.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,430 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Wolstencroft surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wolstencroft surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wolstencroft 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 516 #4,849
1861 historical 549 #4,796
1881 historical 1,173 #3,433
1891 historical 1,276 #3,387
1901 historical 1,430 #3,554
1911 historical 1,365 #3,517
1997 modern 865 #6,154
1998 modern 905 #6,135
1999 modern 905 #6,174
2000 modern 904 #6,159
2001 modern 897 #6,106
2002 modern 910 #6,149
2003 modern 890 #6,141
2004 modern 877 #6,215
2005 modern 875 #6,156
2006 modern 851 #6,310
2007 modern 859 #6,323
2008 modern 848 #6,439
2009 modern 843 #6,604
2010 modern 858 #6,642
2011 modern 831 #6,726
2012 modern 814 #6,743
2013 modern 819 #6,808
2014 modern 807 #6,947
2015 modern 808 #6,870
2016 modern 794 #6,962

Geography

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Where Wolstencrofts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Eccles, Manchester, Dean and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Salford, Hyndburn and Bury. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Dean Lancashire
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 034 Bolton
2 Salford 008 Salford
3 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
4 Salford 005 Salford
5 Bury 014 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wolstencroft

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wolstencroft

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Wolstencroft surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wolstencroft household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wolstencroft 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

Wolstencroft is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wolstencroft falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wolstencroft 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wolstencroft

The surname Wolstencroft likely originates from England and is a locational name, which is derived from a place. The name itself is composed of Old English elements: "Wolstan," which is a personal name, and "croft," which means a small enclosed field or pasture. The name as a whole can thus be interpreted to mean "Wolstan's croft."

Wolstencroft is particularly associated with the northwest of England, likely around the Lancashire area. It is reasonable to assume the name dates back to the Middle Ages, as the period saw the establishment of many locational surnames. The use of the name would have originally indicated someone who dwelled or worked on the land owned or associated with a person named Wolstan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wolstencroft appears in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire dated 1246, where a Robert de Wolstencroft is listed. This shows that the name had established itself in the region by the mid-13th century.

In the 16th century, records from Eccles Church in Lancashire mention a John Wolstencroft in 1592. These parish records provide insight into the residents of the time and demonstrate that the surname was still in use in the same general area centuries later.

In the 17th century, another notable bearer of the surname was James Wolstencroft, born in 1625. He was known in local records, particularly for being involved in land transactions, which were common activities that led to further documentation of surnames.

The Wolstencroft family name continued to be recognized in the 18th century with individuals such as Thomas Wolstencroft, who was mentioned in local tax records from 1723 in Lancashire. These records often give valuable insights into the economic contributions of citizens and their holdings within the community.

By the 19th century, the name appeared in a variety of records, including military and educational documents. Joseph Wolstencroft, a schoolmaster born in 1798, contributed to educational advancements in the Manchester area. His records are significant for understanding the social movements and occupations of people with this surname during that period.

Summarizing the historical context, the surname Wolstencroft has its roots firmly planted in the English counties of Lancashire, evolving from agricultural and locational origins. The name has persisted through centuries, as evidenced by its presence in various historical records and documents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wolstencroft families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wolstencroft 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. Lancashire leads with 1,083 Wolstencrofts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.98x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,083 7.98x
Cheshire 36 1.43x
Yorkshire 29 0.26x
Middlesex 7 0.06x
Surrey 7 0.13x
Derbyshire 5 0.28x
Durham 3 0.09x
Glamorgan 2 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 236 Wolstencrofts recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.85x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 236 53.85x
Chadderton 118 177.76x
Clifton 117 1148.18x
Kearsley 84 294.01x
Worsley 35 41.82x
Manchester 34 5.57x
Great Bolton 31 17.24x
Tonge 31 108.81x
Royton 30 72.24x
Ashton Under Lyne 26 8.76x
Gorton 26 20.37x
Blackley 23 96.64x
Farnworth 21 25.81x
Little Bolton 18 10.31x
Moston 18 132.16x
Salford 17 4.26x
Bury 16 10.32x
Pendlebury 13 45.34x
Crompton 11 28.45x
Beswick 10 28.80x
Great Lever 10 69.40x
Little Hulton 10 44.48x
Radcliffe 10 15.28x
Widnes 9 9.19x
Adlington 8 236.69x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 7.83x
Droylsden 8 18.06x
Scarborough 8 7.76x
Leftwich 7 62.39x
Middleton In Oldham 7 17.19x
Monks Coppenhall 7 7.34x
Wigan 7 3.69x
Altrincham 6 13.60x
Clapham 6 4.19x
Didsbury 6 33.28x
Hunslet 6 3.39x
Ince In Makerfield 6 9.50x
Newton 6 5.73x
Pilkington 6 11.63x
Stretford 6 8.03x
Glossop Dale 5 5.96x
Heap 5 6.94x
Turton 5 22.49x
Ardsley 4 30.60x
Ardwick 4 3.27x
St Pancras London 4 0.43x
Withington 4 9.14x
Accrington 3 2.43x
Cheetham 3 2.96x
Dukinfield 3 2.57x
Elton 3 6.40x
Formby 3 19.52x
Hapton 3 35.34x
Haughton 3 15.14x
Heaton Norris 3 3.88x
Islington London 3 0.27x
Toxteth Park 3 0.65x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 3 7.67x
Warrington 3 1.86x
Westoe 3 1.55x
Birkenhead 2 0.99x
Broughton In Salford 2 1.61x
Burnley 2 1.75x
Carlton In Skipton 2 30.17x
Crumpsall 2 6.25x
Handforth 2 69.44x
Holy Trinity 2 0.73x
Hulme 2 0.71x
Manningham 2 1.43x
Moss Side 2 2.80x
Newcastle Lower 2 48.08x
Reddish 2 10.70x
Rumworth 2 10.31x
Rusholme 2 5.52x
Shipley 2 3.40x
Thornhill 2 6.04x
Whittingham 2 33.44x
Coventry St Michael 1 1.08x
Failsworth 1 3.22x
Tonge With Haulgh 1 3.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 102
Elizabeth 61
Sarah 49
Alice 46
Ann 32
Hannah 26
Martha 26
Eliza 23
Ellen 23
Jane 21
Annie 15
Emily 11
Betty 9
Emma 9
Harriet 8
Margaret 8
Fanny 7
Catherine 6
Edith 6
Esther 6
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Ada 4
Clara 4
Rachel 4
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Frances 3
Leah 3
Susannah 3
Amelia 2
Betsey 2
Cathrine 2
Eda 2
Eleanor 2
Gertrude 2
Lilly 2
Lydia 2
Nancy 2
Nelly 2
Phillis 2
Susan 2
Theresa 2
Angela 1
Bessie 1
Clare 1
Drucilla 1
Edna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 87
James 66
Thomas 63
William 43
Joseph 37
George 24
Robert 22
Samuel 22
Alfred 12
Arthur 10
Peter 10
Richard 8
Albert 7
Edward 7
Fred 7
Herbert 7
Benjamin 6
Henry 6
Frank 5
Harry 5
Jas. 5
Jacob 4
Thos. 4
Walter 4
Wm. 4
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Josiah 3
Levi 3
Adam 2
Charles 2
David 2
Eli 2
Ellis 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Jno.A. 2
Joshua 2
Matthew 2
Stanley 2
Chas. 1
Cuthbert 1
Ernest 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Kay 1
Luck 1

FAQ

Wolstencroft surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wolstencroft surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,173 people were recorded with the Wolstencroft surname. That placed it at #3,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wolstencroft surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016. That gives Wolstencroft a modern rank of #6,962.

What does the Wolstencroft surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone residing near a clearing or enclosure of woodland.

What does the Wolstencroft map show?

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