NameCensus.

UK surname

Wormald

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "worm wood" or "bitter plant valley".

In the 1881 census there were 1,346 people recorded with the Wormald surname, ranking it #3,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,283, ranked #4,670, down from #3,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wakefield, Bradford and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Calderdale and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wormald is 1,729 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.7%.

1881 census count

1,346

Ranked #3,046

Modern count

1,283

2016, ranked #4,670

Peak year

1911

1,729 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wormald had 1,346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,283 in 2016, ranked #4,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,729 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Wormald surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wormald surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wormald 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 838 #3,241
1861 historical 844 #3,274
1881 historical 1,346 #3,046
1891 historical 1,547 #2,855
1901 historical 1,712 #3,015
1911 historical 1,729 #2,835
1997 modern 1,400 #4,141
1998 modern 1,445 #4,182
1999 modern 1,448 #4,198
2000 modern 1,444 #4,196
2001 modern 1,396 #4,231
2002 modern 1,391 #4,314
2003 modern 1,347 #4,355
2004 modern 1,372 #4,300
2005 modern 1,307 #4,412
2006 modern 1,281 #4,501
2007 modern 1,292 #4,514
2008 modern 1,281 #4,569
2009 modern 1,307 #4,584
2010 modern 1,346 #4,550
2011 modern 1,315 #4,591
2012 modern 1,274 #4,654
2013 modern 1,314 #4,612
2014 modern 1,312 #4,637
2015 modern 1,313 #4,587
2016 modern 1,283 #4,670

Geography

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Where Wormalds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wakefield, Bradford, Halifax and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Calderdale and Wakefield. 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 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 023 Bradford
2 Calderdale 025 Calderdale
3 Calderdale 015 Calderdale
4 Wakefield 024 Wakefield
5 Calderdale 024 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wormald

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wormald

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Wormald is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Wormald is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wormald falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wormald is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wormald

The surname Wormald originates from England and dates back to the medieval period, likely around the 13th to 14th centuries. This surname is predominantly associated with the northern regions of England, particularly Yorkshire. The name is derived from Old English and is composed of elements from the words "wurm" or "wyrm" meaning serpent or dragon, and "mæld" meaning speech or council, resulting in a possible interpretation of "serpent council."

Early records reveal several references to the name Wormald or its variants. In the records of the Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379, individuals with surnames like Wurmal were noted. Additionally, earlier variants such as Wyrelwald appeared in certain documents, suggesting a gradual evolution in spelling and pronunciation. The Domesday Book, which was completed in 1086, does not directly mention Wormald, but it does provide context for the regions where the name would later be found.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is Gilbert Wormald, who appeared in the Yorkshire Poll Tax records of 1379. Another notable individual is Nicholas Wormald, who was referenced in documents from the late 16th century. During the 17th century, records from Yorkshire mention John Wormald, born in 1624, as a farmer in the region.

The name has been associated with various place names over the centuries. One such place is Wormald Green, a small hamlet near Harrogate in North Yorkshire, indicating a possible geographical origin for some bearers of the surname.

Several historical figures bearing the surname Wormald include James Wormald, born in 1765, who was known for his contributions to local governance in Yorkshire. Samuel Wormald, born in 1810, became an influential figure in the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution. Another notable Wormald was George Wormald, born in 1840, who contributed significantly to the agricultural development of northern England.

These individuals, among others, played crucial roles in their respective fields and contributed to the prominence of the Wormald name in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wormald families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wormald 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. Yorkshire leads with 949 Wormalds recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.23x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 949 7.23x
Lancashire 178 1.13x
Middlesex 53 0.40x
Surrey 38 0.59x
Durham 26 0.66x
Northumberland 23 1.17x
Warwickshire 19 0.57x
Sussex 13 0.58x
Channel Islands 9 2.29x
Derbyshire 9 0.43x
Cheshire 8 0.27x
Suffolk 8 0.50x
Hertfordshire 5 0.55x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.84x
Gloucestershire 3 0.12x
Lincolnshire 3 0.14x
Kent 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.10x
Caithness 1 0.55x
Devon 1 0.04x
Essex 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Monmouthshire 1 0.10x
Perthshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 117 Wormalds recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.80x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 117 15.80x
Warley 68 179.37x
Hunslet 65 31.78x
Halifax 41 21.29x
Rothwell 38 143.45x
Oldham 36 7.10x
Holbeck 33 37.97x
Headingley Cum Burley 29 34.34x
Batley 28 22.46x
Wortley In Bramley 25 24.06x
Liversedge 24 41.10x
Ovenden 24 41.11x
Wakefield 24 23.83x
Ashton Under Lyne 22 6.41x
Castleton 22 14.02x
Dewsbury 21 15.61x
Mirfield 21 29.16x
Soothill 20 42.21x
Bradford 16 5.04x
Bowling 14 10.78x
Broughton In Salford 14 9.75x
Cawood 14 278.33x
Pontefract 13 46.00x
Coventry St Michael 12 11.19x
Heckmondwike 12 28.44x
Kirkheaton 12 56.42x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 12 75.05x
Brighton 11 2.44x
Yeadon 11 37.14x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 10 20.99x
Bermondsey 10 2.54x
East Keswick 10 492.61x
Openshaw 10 13.59x
Prudhoe Castle 10 261.10x
Throston 10 132.28x
Crompton 9 20.12x
Elland Cum Greetland 9 15.23x
Guiseley 9 53.57x
Lambeth 9 0.78x
Northowram 9 9.78x
Pool 9 344.83x
St Helier 9 7.05x
Whitby 9 20.36x
York St Mary 9 16.57x
Bury 8 4.46x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 8 26.44x
Gildersome 8 50.73x
Islington London 8 0.62x
Meltham 8 39.22x
Midgley 8 57.22x
Sturton Grange 8 3200.00x
Beeston 7 52.75x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 2.81x
Crook Billy Row 7 13.88x
Horton In Bradford 7 3.42x
Manchester 7 0.99x
Morley 7 10.26x
St George Bloomsbury 7 9.22x
Tynemouth 7 6.64x
Allerton Bywater 6 84.51x
Ardwick 6 4.23x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 6.02x
Drypool 6 29.88x
Garforth 6 59.76x
Hornsey 6 3.58x
Manningham 6 3.71x
North Meols 6 3.90x
Stockton On Tees 6 3.16x
Ackworth 5 49.60x
Ardsley 5 33.07x
Bramley In Bramley 5 9.96x
Cleckheaton 5 10.35x
Ludworth 5 51.23x
Mile End Old Town 5 2.39x
Newington 5 1.02x
Pudsey 5 7.13x
St George Hanover 5 2.89x
St Mary Le Strand 5 118.76x
Stoke Newington London 5 4.85x
Withington 5 9.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 83
Sarah 59
Elizabeth 39
Ann 37
Hannah 28
Jane 26
Martha 24
Annie 23
Emma 22
Alice 21
Emily 20
Ellen 16
Ada 15
Eliza 15
Harriet 14
Margaret 12
Frances 10
Louisa 9
Maria 9
Florence 8
Clara 7
Edith 5
Gertrude 5
Ruth 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Susannah 5
Anne 4
Elizth. 4
Esther 4
Lucy 4
Rose 4
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Annis 3
Betty 3
Charlotte 3
Grace 3
Harriett 3
Lavinia 3
Lilly 3
Lily 3
Rebecca 3
Catherine 2
Emmaline 2
Kate 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Nelly 2
Rachel 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 87
William 51
Thomas 49
Joseph 41
George 33
James 28
Henry 21
Arthur 17
Charles 17
Samuel 16
Harry 15
Robert 12
Fred 11
Albert 10
Joshua 10
Herbert 9
Abraham 8
Alfred 8
Ernest 8
David 7
Walter 7
Edwin 6
Frank 6
Richard 6
Tom 6
Wm. 6
Edward 5
Francis 5
Frederick 5
Jonas 5
Sam 5
Thos. 5
Benjamin 4
Daniel 4
Bryan 3
Edgar 3
Jacob 3
Jno. 3
Percy 3
Sidney 3
Stanley 3
Willie 3
Ben 2
Edmund 2
Fredrick 2
Joe 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Robt. 2
Squire 2

FAQ

Wormald surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wormald surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,346 people were recorded with the Wormald surname. That placed it at #3,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wormald surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,283 in 2016. That gives Wormald a modern rank of #4,670.

What does the Wormald surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "worm wood" or "bitter plant valley".

What does the Wormald map show?

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