NameCensus.

UK surname

Wratten

A topographical surname originally denoting someone residing at a small hamlet or farm.

In the 1881 census there were 404 people recorded with the Wratten surname, ranking it #7,919 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 653, ranked #8,152, down from #7,919 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Marden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maidstone, Swale and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wratten is 765 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.6%.

1881 census count

404

Ranked #7,919

Modern count

653

2016, ranked #8,152

Peak year

1999

765 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wratten had 404 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,919 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 653 in 2016, ranked #8,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 691 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wratten surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wratten surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wratten 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 246 #8,891
1861 historical 223 #10,942
1881 historical 404 #7,919
1891 historical 462 #7,917
1901 historical 567 #7,374
1911 historical 691 #6,145
1997 modern 715 #7,136
1998 modern 755 #7,059
1999 modern 765 #7,031
2000 modern 743 #7,154
2001 modern 711 #7,275
2002 modern 719 #7,355
2003 modern 694 #7,433
2004 modern 690 #7,498
2005 modern 670 #7,602
2006 modern 691 #7,433
2007 modern 678 #7,633
2008 modern 666 #7,769
2009 modern 686 #7,759
2010 modern 696 #7,815
2011 modern 685 #7,819
2012 modern 640 #8,156
2013 modern 653 #8,196
2014 modern 660 #8,149
2015 modern 651 #8,187
2016 modern 653 #8,152

Geography

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Where Wrattens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Marden and Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maidstone, Swale, Stockton-on-Tees and Ashford. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Marden Kent
5 Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
2 Swale 014 Swale
3 Stockton-on-Tees 022 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Ashford 004 Ashford
5 Ashford 001 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wratten

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wratten

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wratten, 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 Wratten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wratten 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Wratten is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wratten is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wratten falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wratten

The surname Wratten is of English origin and dates back to medieval times. The name is believed to be primarily concentrated in the southeastern part of England, notably in counties such as Kent and Sussex. It likely originates from a place name or geographical feature; however, the exact etymology remains somewhat obscure.

Wratten appears to derive from Old English elements. One possible origin might be linked to the Old English word "wræt," meaning a rough hill or ridge, combined with "tun," meaning an enclosure or settlement. This would suggest that Wratten originally referred to someone who lived near a rough hill or ridge enclosure.

Historical records suggest that the surname Wratten first appeared in written form in the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is in the Sussex Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a Nicholas Wretten can be found. This suggests that the name was already established and in use by the early 14th century.

Another early historical reference includes a record in the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1430, mentioning a John Wratten. This further confirms the surname's presence in southeastern England.

An example of a prominent individual with this surname is Thomas Wratten, who lived during the 16th century. Born in the early 1500s, Thomas played a role in local governance and land transactions in Sussex. His records indicate a man engaged in the agricultural and socio-economic activities of his time.

In the 17th century, a Richard Wratten (1605–1672) is noted for his role in local parish management in Kent. His involvement in church records and local land surveys provides significant insights into the surname's persistence and the socio-economic milieu of that era.

The Wratten surname continued to appear in various official and church records throughout the 18th century. One notable bearer is William Wratten (1753–1821), a yeoman farmer in Sussex, whose records highlight the continued use of the surname among agricultural communities.

The Wratten surname also traveled overseas, as evidenced by John Wratten (1789–1853), who emigrated to North America in the early 19th century. His descendants continued to carry the surname, helping to spread it further afield from its English origins.

Overall, the surname Wratten encapsulates a rich history, anchored predominantly in the southeastern regions of England, with strong ties to agricultural settings and local governance. Throughout centuries, individuals bearing the surname have played various roles in their communities, from medieval times to early modern history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wratten families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wratten 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. Kent leads with 242 Wrattens recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.86x.

County Total Index
Kent 242 17.86x
Sussex 65 9.71x
Surrey 38 1.96x
Middlesex 21 0.53x
Essex 10 1.28x
Wiltshire 7 1.99x
Derbyshire 5 0.80x
Hampshire 5 0.61x
Yorkshire 4 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.56x
Worcestershire 3 0.58x
Channel Islands 2 1.70x
Berkshire 1 0.34x
Royal Navy 1 2.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deal in Kent leads with 37 Wrattens recorded in 1881 and an index of 320.35x.

Place Total Index
Deal 37 320.35x
Folkestone 21 79.94x
Brookland 14 2372.88x
Burmarsh 12 5000.00x
Headcorn 11 541.87x
West Ham 10 5.78x
West Hythe 10 5263.16x
Croydon 9 8.38x
East Guildford 9 3600.00x
Bethersden 7 507.25x
Boughton Monchelsea 7 469.80x
Clayton 7 277.78x
Eastbourne 7 22.73x
Hackney London 7 3.14x
Sittingbourne 7 65.42x
Smeeth 7 833.33x
Wye 7 333.33x
Buxted 6 229.01x
Carshalton 6 81.08x
Detling 6 1304.35x
Hailsham 6 148.15x
Hellingly 6 267.86x
Marden 6 188.68x
Snargate 6 3000.00x
St Marylebone London 6 2.83x
Yalding 6 175.44x
Bow London 5 9.89x
Canterbury St Mary 5 55.01x
Chesterfield 5 21.46x
Cliffe 5 221.24x
East Molesey 5 111.36x
Hastings St Mary 5 30.01x
Heathfield 5 184.50x
Lambeth 5 1.44x
Lydd 5 172.41x
Snave 5 3333.33x
Stanford 5 1250.00x
Flamborough 4 209.42x
Hope All Sts 4 10000.00x
Lee 4 20.34x
Portsea 4 2.51x
Reigate Borough 4 89.69x
Trowbridge 4 25.77x
Woolwich 4 7.99x
Bradford On Avon 3 26.69x
Brenzett 3 714.29x
Canterbury St Augustine 3 600.00x
Dartford 3 21.66x
Dudley 3 4.76x
Eynsford 3 129.31x
Hastings St Leonards 3 30.49x
Hythe St Leonard 3 62.63x
Kennington 3 297.03x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.17x
Sellinge 3 340.91x
Tenterden 3 62.76x
Betchworth 2 83.68x
Clapham 2 4.03x
Cranbrook 2 34.84x
Eastbridge 2 2857.14x
Faversham 2 15.48x
Hove 2 6.81x
Lympne 2 263.16x
Ramsgate 2 9.05x
St Clement Danes 2 31.10x
St Helier 2 5.22x
Willesborough 2 54.95x
Ashburnham 1 95.24x
Fairfield 1 1428.57x
High Halden 1 116.28x
Hunton 1 84.03x
Lewes St John Southover 1 22.22x
Lindfield 1 35.34x
Newington 1 0.68x
Old Romney 1 500.00x
Pluckley 1 80.00x
Portsmouth 1 5.34x
Reculver 1 250.00x
Royal Navy 1 2.47x
Southwark St John 1 8.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 27
George 23
John 21
James 19
Thomas 10
Charles 9
Stephen 8
Alfred 7
Robert 6
Albert 5
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Jacob 5
Henry 4
Adam 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Isaac 2
Octavius 2
Abraham 1
Amos 1
Bruce 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edw. 1
Elam 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred.John 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Howard 1
Jeremiah 1
Joe 1
Joseph 1
Laban 1
Michael 1
Osborn 1
Percy 1
Rich. 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1
Willy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wratten surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wratten surname in 1881?

In 1881, 404 people were recorded with the Wratten surname. That placed it at #7,919 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wratten surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 653 in 2016. That gives Wratten a modern rank of #8,152.

What does the Wratten surname mean?

A topographical surname originally denoting someone residing at a small hamlet or farm.

What does the Wratten map show?

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