NameCensus.

UK surname

Wolstenholme

A locational surname derived from places in Lancashire and Cheshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 2,392 people recorded with the Wolstenholme surname, ranking it #1,866 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,090, ranked #3,094, down from #1,866 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wolstenholme is 3,148 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.6%.

1881 census count

2,392

Ranked #1,866

Modern count

2,090

2016, ranked #3,094

Peak year

1911

3,148 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wolstenholme had 2,392 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,866 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,090 in 2016, ranked #3,094.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,148 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Wolstenholme surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wolstenholme surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wolstenholme 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 1,099 #2,560
1861 historical 1,201 #2,365
1881 historical 2,392 #1,866
1891 historical 2,555 #1,862
1901 historical 2,932 #1,907
1911 historical 3,148 #1,652
1997 modern 2,348 #2,658
1998 modern 2,404 #2,695
1999 modern 2,444 #2,684
2000 modern 2,415 #2,697
2001 modern 2,353 #2,704
2002 modern 2,358 #2,747
2003 modern 2,330 #2,726
2004 modern 2,350 #2,707
2005 modern 2,271 #2,750
2006 modern 2,274 #2,747
2007 modern 2,277 #2,768
2008 modern 2,281 #2,784
2009 modern 2,315 #2,823
2010 modern 2,349 #2,841
2011 modern 2,267 #2,897
2012 modern 2,141 #2,991
2013 modern 2,175 #2,996
2014 modern 2,185 #3,002
2015 modern 2,126 #3,058
2016 modern 2,090 #3,094

Geography

Back to top

Where Wolstenholmes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bury, Manchester, Sheffield and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Rochdale, Hyndburn and Sheffield. 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 Bury Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 034 Bolton
2 Rochdale 018 Rochdale
3 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
4 Sheffield 039 Sheffield
5 Rochdale 020 Rochdale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wolstenholme

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wolstenholme

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Wolstenholme surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Wolstenholme 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wolstenholme 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

Wolstenholme is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wolstenholme 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 Wolstenholme 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 Wolstenholme, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wolstenholme

The surname Wolstenholme has its origins in England, specifically from the regions of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Dating back to the medieval period, the name is believed to have been derived from a place name. The Old English components of the word include "Wulfstan," a personal name meaning "wolf stone" or "wolf's settlement," combined with "holmr," a Norse Viking term meaning "island" or "river meadow." Together, Wolstenholme likely signifies "Wulfstan's island or river meadow."

The place called Wolstenholme was historically situated in the area bordering Lancashire and Yorkshire. Documentaries and historical references to this name date back to significant records, such as the Domesday Book compiled in 1086, though this specific surname appears slightly later in records. Early spellings have varied, including Wolstonholme and Wulfstanholm, reflecting transitional linguistic forms.

One of the earliest known instances of the surname in official records was John de Wolstenholme, who appeared in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. This indicates the surname was well-established by the 14th century. Other early forms included Richard Wolvestan, also mentioned in regional medieval documents.

The name Wolstenholme has been carried by several notable individuals throughout history. Sir John Wolstenholme (1562-1639), a prominent English merchant, was one of the investors in the Virginia Company of London, which played a significant role in early American colonization. Another noteworthy figure was Sir John Wolstenholme, 2nd Baronet (c. 1607-1670), who was involved in the customs service under King Charles I and was knighted for his services.

In the 18th century, Rev. Thomas Wolstenholme (1712-1793), an influential clergyman and theologian, made contributions to religious literature and thought in Britain. Moving forward into the 19th century, Richard Wolstenholme (1795-1880), an industrialist and inventor, is remembered for his advancements in textile machinery during the Industrial Revolution.

The surname continues to hold historical significance with a strong association to its geographical and cultural roots in Northern England. The evolution and persistence of the name Wolstenholme through centuries reflect the enduring legacy of families hailing from this lineage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wolstenholme families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wolstenholme 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 1,882 Wolstenholmes recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.80x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,882 6.80x
Yorkshire 312 1.35x
Derbyshire 73 2.00x
Cheshire 53 1.03x
Warwickshire 20 0.34x
Surrey 13 0.11x
Middlesex 12 0.05x
Hampshire 6 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.13x
Durham 3 0.04x
Midlothian 3 0.10x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.05x
Cumberland 1 0.05x
Devon 1 0.02x
Northumberland 1 0.03x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.04x
Worcestershire 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. Bury in Lancashire leads with 196 Wolstenholmes recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.02x.

Place Total Index
Bury 196 62.02x
Blackburn 121 16.44x
Heap 110 74.97x
Tottington Lower End 76 57.81x
Radcliffe 70 52.49x
Oldham 69 7.73x
Manchester 67 5.39x
Clifton 63 303.47x
Castleton 50 18.10x
Accrington 47 18.69x
Salford 47 5.78x
Elton 46 48.13x
Pilkington 40 38.06x
Middleton In Oldham 39 47.02x
Worsley 37 21.70x
Brightside Bierlow 34 7.50x
Great Harwood 34 67.99x
Pendleton In Salford 32 9.71x
Kearsley 31 53.26x
Pendlebury 31 53.07x
Ecclesall Bierlow 30 6.38x
Sheffield 30 4.08x
Tottington Higher End 27 85.74x
Oswaldtwistle 26 26.60x
Great Bolton 25 6.82x
Nether Hallam 24 7.68x
Little Lever 22 62.18x
Layton With Warbreck 21 20.69x
Prestwich 20 28.98x
Rishton 20 61.63x
Everton 19 2.15x
Farnworth 19 11.46x
Hopwood 19 52.53x
Spotland 18 5.85x
Alkrington 17 561.06x
Birmingham 17 0.87x
Chorlton On Medlock 17 3.87x
Thornton In Bradford 17 22.10x
Newchurch 16 7.07x
North Meols 16 5.91x
Royton 16 18.91x
Clayton Le Moors 15 27.94x
Hulme 15 2.60x
Clifton In York 14 28.97x
Dewsbury 14 5.91x
Habergham Eaves 14 5.54x
Wigan 13 3.36x
Dronfield 12 25.66x
Huddersfield 12 3.57x
Beswick 11 15.55x
Hindley 11 9.33x
Beighton 10 60.46x
Brinsworth 10 93.37x
Handsworth 10 16.37x
Little Hulton 10 21.83x
Mottram 10 42.90x
Norton In Malton 10 35.71x
Over Darwen 10 4.53x
Totley 10 186.92x
Birtle Cum Bamford 9 49.86x
Blackley 9 18.56x
Chorley 9 5.80x
Gorton 9 3.46x
Halliwell 9 8.94x
Heage 9 46.61x
Heeley 9 12.82x
Ince In Makerfield 9 6.99x
Rochdale 9 44.62x
Ardwick 8 3.21x
Bowling 8 3.50x
Haslingden 8 6.98x
Newton 8 3.75x
Pilsworth 8 131.58x
Poulton Barre 8 25.41x
Stretford 8 5.26x
Tonge With Haulgh 8 14.86x
Dilworth 7 41.30x
Macclesfield 7 3.06x
Newbold Dunston 7 20.18x
Walmersley Cum 7 15.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 196
Sarah 105
Elizabeth 74
Alice 67
Jane 54
Ann 52
Ellen 46
Annie 38
Emma 38
Hannah 37
Eliza 31
Margaret 31
Martha 20
Emily 19
Nancy 18
Lucy 16
Rachel 16
Maria 15
Betsy 14
Ada 12
Betty 11
Edith 11
Esther 11
Louisa 10
Fanny 9
Clara 8
Florence 8
Harriet 7
Amy 6
Anne 6
Catherine 6
Kate 6
Rebecca 6
Susannah 6
Amelia 5
Bertha 5
Charlotte 5
Ethel 5
Frances 5
Harriett 5
Lydia 5
Selina 5
Eliz. 4
Elizth. 4
Gertrude 4
Leah 4
Lily 4
Maud 4
Rose 4
Ruth 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 168
James 122
William 100
Thomas 81
Joseph 50
Robert 45
Samuel 45
George 40
Henry 32
Alfred 24
Albert 22
Arthur 20
Edward 18
Richard 17
Charles 16
Fred 14
Frederick 14
Walter 14
Wm. 14
Ernest 13
Herbert 13
Daniel 9
Matthew 8
Edwin 7
Harry 7
Frank 6
Peter 6
Saml. 6
Squire 6
Thos. 6
Jacob 5
Jas. 5
Adam 4
Benjamin 4
David 4
Ellis 4
Jesse 4
Jno. 4
Josiah 4
Mark 4
Willm. 4
Abraham 3
Elias 3
Harold 3
Jonathan 3
Leonard 3
Levi 3
Percy 3
Robinson 3
Sam 3

FAQ

Wolstenholme surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wolstenholme surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,392 people were recorded with the Wolstenholme surname. That placed it at #1,866 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wolstenholme surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,090 in 2016. That gives Wolstenholme a modern rank of #3,094.

What does the Wolstenholme surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in Lancashire and Cheshire, England.

What does the Wolstenholme map show?

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