NameCensus.

UK surname

Wotherspoon

A surname derived from a place name likely containing the Old English elements "wether" (ram or male sheep) and "spoon" (valley or hollow).

In the 1881 census there were 962 people recorded with the Wotherspoon surname, ranking it #4,033 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,462, ranked #4,211, down from #4,033 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Bothwell and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardenden, Orbiston and Falkirk - Bainsford and Langlees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wotherspoon is 1,466 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.0%.

1881 census count

962

Ranked #4,033

Modern count

1,462

2016, ranked #4,211

Peak year

2010

1,466 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wotherspoon had 962 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,033 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,462 in 2016, ranked #4,211.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,213 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Wotherspoon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wotherspoon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wotherspoon 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 531 #4,730
1861 historical 684 #3,936
1881 historical 962 #4,033
1891 historical 1,123 #3,782
1901 historical 1,213 #4,061
1911 historical 213 #14,379
1997 modern 1,394 #4,152
1998 modern 1,426 #4,213
1999 modern 1,418 #4,260
2000 modern 1,425 #4,236
2001 modern 1,372 #4,274
2002 modern 1,395 #4,307
2003 modern 1,384 #4,261
2004 modern 1,394 #4,239
2005 modern 1,390 #4,213
2006 modern 1,398 #4,196
2007 modern 1,409 #4,209
2008 modern 1,426 #4,200
2009 modern 1,432 #4,264
2010 modern 1,466 #4,259
2011 modern 1,449 #4,252
2012 modern 1,417 #4,265
2013 modern 1,447 #4,258
2014 modern 1,462 #4,255
2015 modern 1,455 #4,237
2016 modern 1,462 #4,211

Geography

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Where Wotherspoons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Bothwell, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardenden, Orbiston, Falkirk - Bainsford and Langlees, Milnwood and Oban South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardenden Fife
2 Orbiston North Lanarkshire
3 Falkirk - Bainsford and Langlees Falkirk
4 Milnwood North Lanarkshire
5 Oban South Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wotherspoon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wotherspoon

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Wotherspoon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Wotherspoon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wotherspoon 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

Wotherspoon is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wotherspoon 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 Wotherspoon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wotherspoon

The surname Wotherspoon originates from Scotland, with roots tracing back to the Lowlands. The name is of Scottish origin and is primarily associated with the regions of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. It dates back to the medieval period, around the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English elements "wudu," meaning wood, and "spōn," meaning chip or splinter. Therefore, it likely referred to someone who lived near or worked with wood.

In historical manuscripts, the surname Wotherspoon appears in various forms. Early records show variations such as Wodyrspone, Woderyspon, Wodderspon, and Wadderspoon. These records suggest a strong affiliation with wooded areas, indicative of the family's possible occupation as foresters or woodmen. The name appears in several old Scottish documents, including land grants, charters, and tax rolls from the 14th and 15th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is James Woderyspone, mentioned in the Ragman Roll of 1296. This document included names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to Edward I of England. Another early reference is to Robert Wotherspoon, born in 1523, who was a landowner in Renfrewshire. Robert's family continued to hold significant land and influence in the region for several generations.

In the 18th century, Reverend George Wotherspoon (1748-1829) emerged as a prominent figure. He was a well-known minister and theologian in the Church of Scotland. His contributions to religious thought and education were highly regarded during his lifetime, and he authored several theological works that are still referenced today.

Andrew Wotherspoon (1804-1886) was a notable Scottish surgeon and medical practitioner. He made significant advancements in surgical techniques and contributed to medical literature. His descendants continued the family tradition of medical practice, forming a legacy in the field of healthcare.

In the realm of the arts, Agnes Wotherspoon (1820-1890) gained recognition as a celebrated Scottish painter. Her landscape paintings, which often depicted the natural beauty of the Scottish countryside, were exhibited in galleries throughout Scotland and England.

Finally, William Wotherspoon (1853-1924) stands out as an influential industrialist and inventor. He founded a successful manufacturing company in Glasgow that produced machinery for the textile industry. His innovations in textile machinery significantly improved production efficiency and had a lasting impact on the industry.

Throughout history, the surname Wotherspoon has been associated with notable individuals in various fields, from the church and medicine to the arts and industry. This rich history reflects the diverse contributions of the Wotherspoon lineage to Scottish society over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wotherspoon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wotherspoon 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. Lanarkshire leads with 486 Wotherspoons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.18x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 486 16.18x
Renfrewshire 57 7.92x
Midlothian 45 3.62x
Fife 41 7.46x
Stirlingshire 39 11.39x
Argyllshire 35 13.54x
Middlesex 35 0.38x
Lancashire 28 0.25x
Dunbartonshire 23 9.22x
Durham 18 0.65x
West Lothian 18 12.87x
Clackmannanshire 17 22.17x
Perthshire 17 4.08x
Ayrshire 11 1.58x
Dumfriesshire 10 4.87x
Surrey 9 0.20x
Angus 8 0.93x
Kent 8 0.25x
Yorkshire 8 0.09x
Cumberland 7 0.88x
Leicestershire 7 0.68x
Cheshire 6 0.29x
Peeblesshire 6 13.74x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.47x
Inverness-shire 4 1.44x
Devon 1 0.05x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.90x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x
Westmorland 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Old Monkland in Lanarkshire leads with 95 Wotherspoons recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.71x.

Place Total Index
Old Monkland 95 79.71x
Barony 93 12.24x
Glasgow 60 11.25x
Govan 57 7.67x
Bothwell 54 66.30x
New Monkland 43 48.43x
Cambusnethan 42 62.97x
Gigha Cara 27 2213.11x
Abbey 19 17.30x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 3.60x
Blantyre 15 47.97x
Newburgh 15 214.90x
Kensington London 14 2.71x
Slamannan 14 74.67x
Linlithgow 13 72.50x
Paisley High Church 13 22.69x
Alloa 12 32.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 5.71x
Currie 9 118.11x
Leslie 9 64.66x
Newbattle 9 84.67x
Wolsingham 9 35.74x
Eston 8 39.92x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 6.69x
New Kilpatrick 8 33.70x
Streatham 8 11.61x
Collessie 7 110.58x
Dundee 7 2.18x
Eastwood 7 15.79x
Hamilton 7 8.36x
Cathcart 6 15.41x
Hackney London 6 1.15x
Kinnoull 6 54.74x
Kirkdale 6 3.24x
Lutterworth 6 95.69x
Manor 6 681.82x
St Ninians 6 17.67x
West Kirby 6 168.07x
Bothkennar 5 48.92x
Dalry 5 15.29x
Dumbarton 5 14.40x
Everton 5 1.42x
Falkirk 5 6.24x
Fulham London 5 3.71x
Gorbals 5 28.04x
Habergham Eaves 5 4.96x
Kilmadock 5 52.19x
Perth West Church 5 25.28x
Ramsgate 5 9.67x
Sanquhar 5 69.35x
Tillicoultry 5 29.31x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 2.49x
Brampton 4 36.50x
Dysart 4 10.81x
Kirkintilloch 4 11.80x
Kirkliston 4 49.02x
North Leith 4 6.95x
Cardross 3 10.01x
Edinburgh St Stephens 3 12.25x
Falkland 3 34.68x
Gretna 3 77.72x
Inverness 3 4.30x
Islington London 3 0.33x
Larbert 3 14.66x
Paisley Low Church 3 13.17x
Shettleston 3 11.16x
Stonehouse 3 29.44x
Bow London 2 1.69x
Campbeltown 2 6.41x
Campsie 2 10.64x
Dalserf 2 6.67x
Dryfesdale 2 21.16x
Kilcalmonell 2 34.19x
Kilsyth 2 9.16x
Renfrew 2 8.42x
Row 2 6.20x
St Cuthbert Within 2 21.60x
St Pancras London 2 0.27x
Stevenston 2 11.04x
Stirling 2 4.63x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 7
James 7
John 7
William 6
Charles 5
David 3
Frederick 3
George 3
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Alex 2
Archibald 2
Mervyn 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Alexr. 1
Ernest 1
Hugh 1
Job 1
Joseph 1
Levi 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Wotherspoon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wotherspoon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 962 people were recorded with the Wotherspoon surname. That placed it at #4,033 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wotherspoon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,462 in 2016. That gives Wotherspoon a modern rank of #4,211.

What does the Wotherspoon surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name likely containing the Old English elements "wether" (ram or male sheep) and "spoon" (valley or hollow).

What does the Wotherspoon map show?

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