NameCensus.

UK surname

Wookey

A locational surname referring to someone from the village of Wookey in Somerset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 452 people recorded with the Wookey surname, ranking it #7,304 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 561, ranked #9,145, down from #7,304 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Weston-super-Mare, Kewstoke, Worle. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newport, Mendip and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wookey is 663 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.1%.

1881 census count

452

Ranked #7,304

Modern count

561

2016, ranked #9,145

Peak year

1911

663 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wookey had 452 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,304 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016, ranked #9,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 663 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wookey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wookey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wookey 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 314 #7,361
1861 historical 397 #6,460
1881 historical 452 #7,304
1891 historical 513 #7,274
1901 historical 619 #6,894
1911 historical 663 #6,337
1997 modern 610 #8,047
1998 modern 629 #8,111
1999 modern 631 #8,152
2000 modern 609 #8,347
2001 modern 586 #8,433
2002 modern 592 #8,537
2003 modern 573 #8,592
2004 modern 575 #8,584
2005 modern 562 #8,658
2006 modern 576 #8,542
2007 modern 548 #8,927
2008 modern 559 #8,844
2009 modern 577 #8,838
2010 modern 580 #8,999
2011 modern 575 #8,967
2012 modern 569 #8,942
2013 modern 576 #9,006
2014 modern 585 #8,966
2015 modern 570 #9,054
2016 modern 561 #9,145

Geography

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Where Wookeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Weston-super-Mare, Kewstoke, Worle, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newport, Mendip, Bath and North East Somerset, Tunbridge Wells and North Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 Weston-super-Mare, Kewstoke, Worle Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newport 001 Newport
2 Mendip 005 Mendip
3 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Tunbridge Wells 013 Tunbridge Wells
5 North Somerset 005 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wookey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wookey

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Wookey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wookey 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Wookey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wookey is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wookey falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wookey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wookey

The surname Wookey has its origins in England, specifically from the county of Somerset. The name is believed to have originated in the medieval period, dating back to at least the 12th century. It is derived from a place name, Wookey, which is a village located near Wells in Somerset. The village name itself is thought to be derived from the Old English words "woc," meaning a 'damp, moist place,' and "ey," meaning 'island' or 'area of land surrounded by water.'

Historical references to the name Wookey can be found in various old records and manuscripts. One such early reference is found in the 1236 Assize Rolls for Somerset, where a Robert de Woky is recorded. This is one of the earliest recorded examples of the surname, indicating its noble and notable presence in medieval England.

The Wookey name appears again in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327, referencing an individual named John de Woky, suggesting that the family held a significant presence in the region over the centuries. The use of "de" in these early records indicates a toponymic origin, literally meaning 'of Wookey,' signifying association with the place.

The Wookey name has been documented in several other historical records. For instance, a Thomas Woky is noted in the 1379 Poll Tax records of Yorkshire, showing that the name had spread beyond its original location in Somerset. Another instance includes William Wookey, who is mentioned in the will of John Clerk, dated 1501, from the county of Devon, highlighting the geographic spread of the surname.

Wookey is also associated with notable figures throughout history. One such person is John Wookey, an early 17th-century rector of the parish of East Coker in Somerset. Another distinguished individual is Sir James Wookey, born in 1853 and died in 1927, who served as a prominent figure in the British legal system. Additionally, George Wookey, born in 1907 and died in 1990, was a celebrated British film director and screenwriter.

The name Wookey has its roots deeply embedded in the history and geography of England, particularly within Somerset, and has made its mark through various noteworthy individuals. Its origins can be traced through historical documents, reflecting its enduring legacy through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wookey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wookey 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. Somerset leads with 222 Wookeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.42x.

County Total Index
Somerset 222 31.42x
Gloucestershire 100 11.62x
Lancashire 22 0.42x
Surrey 18 0.84x
Middlesex 17 0.39x
Worcestershire 17 2.97x
Glamorgan 12 1.57x
Berkshire 8 2.43x
Derbyshire 7 1.02x
Northumberland 7 1.07x
Kent 6 0.40x
Monmouthshire 5 1.58x
Sussex 2 0.27x
Warwickshire 2 0.18x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.21x
Royal Navy 1 1.91x
Wiltshire 1 0.26x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 52 Wookeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.31x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 52 78.31x
Burrington 25 3676.47x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 15 18.50x
Shipham 15 2459.02x
Bristol St Paul In 14 61.03x
Warndon 14 6086.96x
Bristol St Augustine 11 79.19x
Lambeth 11 2.87x
Weston Super Mare 11 61.66x
Yatton 11 400.00x
Churchill 10 884.96x
Clifton 10 22.98x
Dyrham Hinton 10 1666.67x
Publow 10 1234.57x
East Harptree 9 909.09x
Rowberrow 9 3600.00x
Winscombe 9 471.20x
Bristol St George 8 20.09x
Everton 8 4.82x
Mortimer 8 506.33x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 24.38x
Chewton Mendip 7 598.29x
Long Ashton 7 200.00x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 17.94x
Bristol St James In 6 47.39x
Stapleton 6 36.74x
Timsbury 6 280.37x
Chelwood 5 2272.73x
Manchester 5 2.13x
Portishead 5 95.24x
West Derby 5 3.28x
Bristol St Michael 4 54.20x
Eglwysilan 4 30.17x
Heanor 4 38.91x
Islington London 4 0.94x
Lee 4 18.39x
South Mimms 4 66.45x
Swansea Town 4 6.38x
Westbury On Trym 4 13.71x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 3 38.27x
Chew Magna 3 120.97x
Claines 3 19.07x
Congresbury 3 167.60x
Hinton Blewett 3 909.09x
Kensington London 3 1.23x
Kirkdale 3 3.42x
Paddington London 3 1.86x
Paulton 3 92.59x
Roath 3 8.64x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.40x
Aston 2 0.66x
Clutton 2 130.72x
Derby St Werburgh 2 5.04x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 12.67x
Hutton 2 384.62x
Llanover 2 18.45x
Streatham 2 6.14x
Trevethin 2 6.67x
Walcot 2 5.31x
Ashcott 1 92.59x
Ashton In Makerfield 1 6.74x
Birkenhead 1 1.29x
Bristol St Peter 1 32.47x
Camberwell 1 0.36x
Clevedon 1 13.61x
Croft 1 114.94x
Dunster 1 59.17x
Holy Trinity 1 0.96x
Llanwonno 1 3.64x
Norton Malreward 1 476.19x
Royal Navy 1 2.24x
Shepton Mallet 1 12.61x
St George Hanover 1 1.75x
St Pancras London 1 0.28x
Trowbridge 1 5.83x
Wellow 1 48.08x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 17.57x
Weston On Trent 1 227.27x
Wick St Lawrence 1 294.12x
Winsham 1 77.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 19
Eliza 15
Emily 10
Ann 9
Alice 8
Ellen 8
Florence 7
Lucy 7
Susan 5
Charlotte 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Beatrice 2
Clara 2
Harriet 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Rosina 2
Allice 1
Anna 1
Annabella 1
Blanche 1
Caraline 1
Clementina 1
Drusilla 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elinor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Zipporah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Wookey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wookey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 452 people were recorded with the Wookey surname. That placed it at #7,304 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wookey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016. That gives Wookey a modern rank of #9,145.

What does the Wookey surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the village of Wookey in Somerset, England.

What does the Wookey map show?

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