NameCensus.

UK surname

Wragge

A surname possibly derived from old English words related to a corner or bend.

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Wragge surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 81, ranked #32,971, down from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Guildford, Croydon and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wragge is 208 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.0%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

81

2016, ranked #32,971

Peak year

1901

208 bearers

Map years

3

1891 to 1911

Key insights

  • Wragge had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 81 in 2016, ranked #32,971.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 208 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wragge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wragge surname density by area, 1911 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wragge 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 52 #23,915
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 124 #20,818
1901 historical 208 #14,760
1911 historical 168 #16,620
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 99 #27,785
1999 modern 102 #27,468
2000 modern 97 #28,142
2001 modern 93 #28,382
2002 modern 87 #29,644
2003 modern 83 #30,088
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 78 #31,058
2006 modern 72 #32,059
2007 modern 76 #31,966
2008 modern 78 #32,081
2009 modern 83 #31,950
2010 modern 85 #32,185
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 83 #32,611
2013 modern 79 #33,142
2014 modern 80 #33,133
2015 modern 79 #33,127
2016 modern 81 #32,971

Geography

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Where Wragges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, Wolstanton and Dudley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Guildford, Croydon, Sheffield and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Dudley Staffordshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Guildford 010 Guildford
2 Croydon 030 Croydon
3 Sheffield 024 Sheffield
4 Cheshire West and Chester 017 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Cheshire West and Chester 019 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wragge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wragge

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wragge, 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 Wragge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wragge 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Wragge 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

Wragge is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wragge falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wragge 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 Wragge, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wragge

The surname Wragge finds its origins in England, particularly from the counties of Northumberland and Yorkshire. It dates back to the medieval period, around the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "wræcca," meaning a stranger or wanderer, suggesting that the earliest holders of this surname may have been wanderers or newcomers to the area.

In historical records, one of the earliest references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, although in a slightly different form. The Domesday Book does not directly list the name Wragge but mentions similar variations such as "Wra" and "Wrage," indicating its presence during that period. Documents from the 13th century reveal the name in various spellings, including Wragge, Wragg, and Wraag.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wragge is John Wragge, who appears in a Yorkshire tax record from 1379. Another significant individual is Thomas Wragge, born in 1480, who was a landowner in York. These early bearers of the name began to establish the presence of the Wragge family in northern England.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Wragge continued to be prominent in Yorkshire. William Wragge, born in 1585, was a notable figure in the legal community in York during this time. His contributions to the local law system and civic duties were well documented in various municipal records.

Moving into the 18th century, Sir Charles Wragge, born in 1725, was a distinguished military officer known for his service in the British Army. He participated in several significant battles and earned recognition for his leadership. Historical records from this period often highlight his contributions and valor.

In the 19th century, John Wright Wragge, born in 1810, was a well-known architect who significantly influenced Victorian-era architecture. His designs and buildings are still admired and studied by architecture enthusiasts. The Wragge family name continued to be associated with prominence and respect in various professional fields.

Through history, the surname Wragge has maintained a presence in English records, often associated with individuals who made significant contributions in their respective domains. These historical references provide a glimpse into the journey of the Wragge family name from its medieval origins to modern times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wragge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wragge 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. Surrey leads with 26 Wragges recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.95x.

County Total Index
Surrey 26 5.95x
Worcestershire 11 9.39x
Cheshire 8 4.04x
Lancashire 8 0.75x
Middlesex 7 0.78x
Staffordshire 7 2.31x
Derbyshire 5 3.56x
Kent 5 1.63x
Sussex 4 2.64x
Warwickshire 4 1.77x
Yorkshire 4 0.45x
Cornwall 1 0.98x
Denbighshire 1 2.95x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 13 Wragges recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.68x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 13 22.68x
Wandsworth 10 115.74x
Dudley 9 63.16x
Rostherne 6 5000.00x
Teddington London 6 295.57x
Codnor Loscoe 5 450.45x
Heaton Norris 5 82.51x
Birmingham 4 5.30x
Chatham 4 47.51x
Eastbourne 4 57.47x
Farley 4 2666.67x
Leatherhead 3 272.73x
Blockley 2 303.03x
Bradford 2 9.29x
Gate Fulford 2 96.15x
Pendleton In Salford 2 15.76x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 6.23x
Annesley 1 217.39x
Barrow 1 454.55x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 31.35x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 5.91x
Hackney London 1 1.99x
Latchford 1 75.76x
Llangollen Trevor 1 476.19x
St Levan 1 555.56x
Wolverhampton 1 4.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 7
Emma 5
Edith 3
Emily 3
Kate 3
Bertha 2
Ellen 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kathleen 1
Leonared 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Muriel 1
Rebecca 1
Stella 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 11
William 4
Alfred 3
James 3
Clement 2
Frederick 2
John 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
F. 1
Frank 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1

FAQ

Wragge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wragge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Wragge surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wragge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 81 in 2016. That gives Wragge a modern rank of #32,971.

What does the Wragge surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from old English words related to a corner or bend.

What does the Wragge map show?

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