NameCensus.

UK surname

Wrate

A locational surname derived from the English village of Wraythe.

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Wrate surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 126, ranked #26,686, up from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, Crawley and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wrate is 138 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 223.1%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

2009

138 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wrate had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 66 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wrate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wrate surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wrate 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 38 #29,216
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 46 #30,657
1901 historical 59 #27,609
1911 historical 66 #26,249
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 123 #24,643
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 130 #24,695
2009 modern 138 #24,276
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 133 #25,729
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

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Where Wrates 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 New Forest, Crawley, South Gloucestershire and East Lindsey. 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 New Forest 018 New Forest
2 Crawley 012 Crawley
3 South Gloucestershire 012 South Gloucestershire
4 South Gloucestershire 015 South Gloucestershire
5 East Lindsey 014 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wrate

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wrate

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Wrate surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wrate household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wrate 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

Wrate 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

Wrate 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 Wrate 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 Wrate, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wrate

The surname Wrate has its origins in England, with historical roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from a variety of Old English and Old Norse words such as wræt (meaning twisted or wreathed) or wraet (meaning angry or evil). Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the surname evolved into its current form, Wrate.

The earliest historical references to the name appear in several medieval manuscripts and charters. Notably, the name is believed to be recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 under slightly different spellings such as Wræts or Wræt. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name Wrate appears in various legal and ecclesiastical documents, indicating a well-established lineage.

One of the first recorded instances of the surname is found in the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Robertus Wratte is mentioned. This record highlights the name's proliferation in the northern regions of England. Another early example is Thomas Wrate, who appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524, signifying the migration of the family name to other parts of England.

The surname Wrate is also connected to place names such as Wrattendon in Hampshire and Wratting in Cambridgeshire. These place names amplify the historical significance and distribution of the surname across England.

Historically significant individuals bearing the surname Wrate include Sir John Wrate, a 15th-century knight who served in the Hundred Years' War and was known for his valor in the Battle of Agincourt. Elizabeth Wrate, a notable figure in the 17th century, was associated with the early advocacy for women's rights in England. Another prominent figure is Reverend George Wrate, a 19th-century clergyman and philanthropist who was well-regarded for his contributions to education and social reform.

Other noteworthy individuals named Wrate include Arthur Wrate, a 19th-century author and historian known for his detailed accounts of English rural life. In the field of science, Dr. Henry Wrate, an early 20th-century chemist, made significant contributions to the development of medical chemistry and pharmaceuticals.

The surname Wrate has a rich historical background intertwined with various regions of England and has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions to various fields throughout the centuries. This name continues to maintain its historical and cultural significance, with records spanning nearly a millennium.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wrate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wrate 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 18 Wrates recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.87x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 18 72.87x
Kent 7 5.26x
Middlesex 3 0.77x
Surrey 3 1.58x
Yorkshire 3 0.78x
Nottinghamshire 2 3.80x
Essex 1 1.30x
Hampshire 1 1.25x
Norfolk 1 1.67x
Royal Navy 1 21.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Outwell in Cambridgeshire leads with 10 Wrates recorded in 1881 and an index of 20000.00x.

Place Total Index
Outwell 10 20000.00x
Downham 4 1538.46x
Tonbridge 4 83.33x
Barnsley 3 75.19x
Haddenham 3 1304.35x
Willesden 3 81.52x
Wimbledon 3 140.85x
Nottingham St Peter 2 338.98x
Bromley 1 49.26x
Leyton Low 1 64.10x
Milton In Milton 1 175.44x
Portsmouth 1 54.35x
Royal Navy 1 25.19x
Tilney St Lawrence 1 1000.00x
Whitstable 1 153.85x
Wisbech St Peter 1 80.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Ann 3
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Susanah 2
Anna 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizebeth 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Priscilla 1
Rosanna 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Francis 2
James 2
William 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Frank 1
George 1
Henry 1
Job 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wrate households.

FAQ

Wrate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wrate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Wrate surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wrate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Wrate a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Wrate surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the English village of Wraythe.

What does the Wrate map show?

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