NameCensus.

UK surname

Wos

A surname with possible Polish or Slavic roots, potentially derived from the word "woś" meaning "ox".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, Newcastle upon Tyne and Rushmoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wos is 110 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

2015

110 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Wos surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wos surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wos 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
1997 modern 17 #36,181
1998 modern 18 #36,135
1999 modern 15 #36,476
2000 modern 21 #35,799
2001 modern 18 #35,961
2002 modern 16 #36,267
2003 modern 14 #36,512
2004 modern 21 #35,969
2005 modern 29 #35,431
2006 modern 39 #34,932
2007 modern 55 #33,965
2008 modern 54 #34,232
2009 modern 50 #34,663
2010 modern 57 #34,421
2011 modern 71 #33,392
2012 modern 93 #31,409
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Wos' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, Newcastle upon Tyne, Rushmoor, Bradford and Eden. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 022 Aylesbury Vale
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 026 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Rushmoor 011 Rushmoor
4 Bradford 039 Bradford
5 Eden 006 Eden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wos

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wos

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Wos surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Wos household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Wos is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wos is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wos falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wos 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Wos

The surname Wos is believed to have originated in Poland. The earliest records of the name date back to the medieval period, specifically the 14th century. This surname is thought to have derived from the Polish word "wóz" which means "cart" or "wagon". This etymological root suggests that the name could have been occupational, likely associated with individuals who made or drove carts.

The regions where the surname Wos first appeared include various parts of Poland, including the Masovian Voivodeship and Lesser Poland. In these areas, people often took on surnames that reflected their professions or characteristics. Thus, it is plausible that the first bearers of the Wos surname had strong connections to trade or transportation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wos comes from a manuscript dating back to 1372. This document, known as the "Sieradz Register," listed a citizen named Jan Wos, a tradesman in the town of Sieradz. The presence of the name in this register indicates Jan Wos was an established figure in his community, whether economically or socially.

By the early 16th century, another notable bearer of the surname was Stanisław Wos, born in 1502, who was a well-documented member of the noble class in Kraków. Stanisław held various administrative roles and was known for his philanthropy, often donating to the local church and funding public works within the city.

Moving to the 17th century, the name appeared in ecclesiastical records, specifically in a parish register from the town of Toruń. Here, Adam Wos, born in 1621, was recorded as a church warden, confirming the name's continuity and presence in Polish civic life.

The geographical spread of the Wos surname continued westward into Germany by the 18th century. Johann Wos, born in 1735, was recorded as a merchant in Berlin. His business dealings extended into various German states, demonstrating the mobility and reach of individuals carrying this surname.

In the 19th century, Wojciech Wos, born in 1820 in Warsaw, emerged as a prominent name in Polish revolutionary circles. Wojciech played a significant role during the January Uprising against the Russian Empire in 1863, showing that people with this surname were also active in social and political matters.

The surname Wos has a rich history derived from its occupational roots in medieval Poland, evolving and spreading across Central Europe over the centuries. Its bearers have been involved in various professions and social endeavors, leaving legacies in different fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Wos surname: questions and answers

How common is the Wos surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Wos a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Wos surname mean?

A surname with possible Polish or Slavic roots, potentially derived from the word "woś" meaning "ox".

What does the Wos map show?

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