NameCensus.

UK surname

Wrath

A transferred use of the English word meaning anger or rage.

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Wrath surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 94, ranked #31,871, down from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cotham, Claxton, or Long Clawson and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, Greenock Town Centre and East Central and Greenock East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wrath is 121 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.1%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

94

2016, ranked #31,871

Peak year

2000

121 bearers

Map years

2

1911 to 1998

Key insights

  • Wrath had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 94 in 2016, ranked #31,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 118 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Wrath surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wrath surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wrath 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 61 #22,412
1861 historical 65 #25,618
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 96 #23,342
1911 historical 118 #20,649
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 113 #25,731
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 121 #24,824
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 117 #25,494
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 102 #29,930
2011 modern 101 #29,938
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 94 #31,871

Geography

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Where Wraths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cotham, Claxton, or Long Clawson, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Sutton Bonnington and Long Bennington, Bennington Grange. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Greenock East and South Kesteven. 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 Cotham Nottinghamshire
2 Claxton, or Long Clawson Leicestershire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Sutton Bonnington Leicestershire
5 Long Bennington, Bennington Grange Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 007 West Lindsey
2 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey
3 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
4 Greenock East Inverclyde
5 South Kesteven 002 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wrath

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wrath

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Wrath surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Wrath household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Wrath 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

Wrath is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wrath falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wrath

The surname Wrath is an intriguing and somewhat rare surname, most likely originating from England. The name's etymology suggests that it might be derived from the Old English word "wræða," meaning "anger" or "rage." This would indicate that the surname was perhaps originally used to describe a person's temperament or disposition, possibly as a nickname for someone known for their intense emotions.

Historically, the surname Wrath appears in various records throughout medieval England. One of the earliest references to a similar name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, though not directly under Wrath, but in the variants such as Wroth or Wrotha. These early forms suggest that the name may have undergone evolution and slight changes in spelling over the centuries.

One of the earliest recorded examples of Wrath in historical documents appears in the 13th century. Henry Wrath, born around 1240, is noted in historical records as a landowner in the county of Essex. His name appears in a local deed, where land transactions and titles became essential for maintaining social and economic status during this period.

In the 15th century, the name Wrath makes another significant appearance. Thomas Wrath, born circa 1470, was a notable figure who served as a juror in several local trials in Kent. Historical manuscripts from this period reflect his participation in community governance and the importance of his role in maintaining local law and order.

During the Tudor period, another prominent individual bearing the surname Wrath was Elizabeth Wrath, born around 1535. She was cited in a legal dispute involving inheritance and property rights. This indicates that the Wrath family held considerable property and maintained a level of influence in their community.

In the 17th century, John Wrath, born 1602, appears in colonial American records. He emigrated from England to the American colonies, settling in what would later become Virginia. His name is documented in passenger lists and early colonial records, illustrating the migration patterns of English families during this period of expansion and settlement.

By the 18th century, the surname Wrath can be seen in parish records throughout England, including notable references like that of Samuel Wrath, born in 1715, who served as a parish clerk in the village of Wrabness, Essex. This positioning within a church and community setting highlights the continuing presence and involvement of individuals with the Wrath surname in English society.

Throughout history, the surname Wrath has been associated with a variety of roles and societal functions, ranging from landowners and jurors to immigrants and parish clerks. The name's evolution over time and its occasional presence in historical records provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who bore this distinctive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wrath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wrath 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 24 Wraths recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.71x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 24 23.71x
Leicestershire 12 14.41x
Lincolnshire 12 9.99x
Lancashire 11 1.23x
Yorkshire 11 1.48x
Derbyshire 3 2.55x
Lanarkshire 2 0.82x
Durham 1 0.45x
Suffolk 1 1.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cotham in Nottinghamshire leads with 12 Wraths recorded in 1881 and an index of 40000.00x.

Place Total Index
Cotham 12 40000.00x
Blyton 7 3888.89x
Greasley 7 307.02x
West Derby 7 26.85x
Holwell 6 8571.43x
Lenton 5 210.08x
Kirby Bellars 4 5714.29x
Mexborough 4 270.27x
Wakefield 4 70.05x
Barony 2 3.25x
Codnor Park 2 714.29x
Great Bolton 2 16.93x
Ince In Makerfield 2 48.19x
Pontefract 2 125.00x
Stowe With Normanby 2 2857.14x
Bishopwearmouth 1 5.21x
Clawson 1 526.32x
Dewsbury 1 13.11x
Eastoft 1 625.00x
Foston 1 1111.11x
Heanor 1 56.82x
Honington 1 2000.00x
Lowestoft 1 23.15x
Wymeswold 1 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Ann 4
Hannah 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Delilah 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizebeth 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
May 1
Shady 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 6
George 5
James 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Fredrick 2
Robert 2
Edward 1
Jacob 1
Job 1
Joe 1
Joseph 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Wrath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wrath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Wrath surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wrath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 94 in 2016. That gives Wrath a modern rank of #31,871.

What does the Wrath surname mean?

A transferred use of the English word meaning anger or rage.

What does the Wrath map show?

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