NameCensus.

UK surname

Wrigglesworth

A surname originating from a location name meaning a settlement among wriggling or twisting streams.

In the 1881 census there were 763 people recorded with the Wrigglesworth surname, ranking it #4,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,029, ranked #5,676, down from #4,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Wakefield and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, Kirklees and York.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wrigglesworth is 1,133 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.9%.

1881 census count

763

Ranked #4,837

Modern count

1,029

2016, ranked #5,676

Peak year

2002

1,133 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wrigglesworth had 763 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,029 in 2016, ranked #5,676.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,078 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wrigglesworth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wrigglesworth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wrigglesworth 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 550 #4,603
1861 historical 588 #4,497
1881 historical 763 #4,837
1891 historical 897 #4,590
1901 historical 1,006 #4,735
1911 historical 1,078 #4,303
1997 modern 1,087 #5,127
1998 modern 1,121 #5,173
1999 modern 1,127 #5,191
2000 modern 1,123 #5,183
2001 modern 1,104 #5,153
2002 modern 1,133 #5,154
2003 modern 1,064 #5,317
2004 modern 1,066 #5,326
2005 modern 1,052 #5,323
2006 modern 1,050 #5,348
2007 modern 1,062 #5,336
2008 modern 1,082 #5,288
2009 modern 1,087 #5,370
2010 modern 1,101 #5,435
2011 modern 1,097 #5,386
2012 modern 1,040 #5,549
2013 modern 1,057 #5,565
2014 modern 1,050 #5,624
2015 modern 1,029 #5,676
2016 modern 1,029 #5,676

Geography

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Where Wrigglesworths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Wakefield, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles, Sculcoates and Sherburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, Kirklees, York and Leeds. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Sherburn Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 004 Selby
2 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
3 York 009 York
4 Leeds 098 Leeds
5 York 012 York

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wrigglesworth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wrigglesworth

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wrigglesworth 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

Wrigglesworth is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wrigglesworth falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wrigglesworth

The surname Wrigglesworth has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire. The name is believed to have originated in the early Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th centuries. Wrigglesworth is a toponymic surname, meaning that it is derived from a place name. It likely comes from the village of Wrigglesworth in West Yorkshire, which no longer exists as a prominent settlement. The name itself is derived from the Old English elements "wrīcel" or "wrigel" meaning "a nook or corner" and "worth," which means "worth" or "farmstead," thus indicating a farm or settlement in a nook.

The name Wrigglesworth appears in historical records dating back several centuries. One of the earliest recorded mentions is in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John de Wriglesworth is listed. This suggests that the name was already well established in Yorkshire by the late 14th century. Other early records include the Yorkshire Subsidy Rolls of 1301, where a Henry de Wriggesworth is mentioned.

In the 16th century, the name was borne by Robert Wrigglesworth, a yeoman farmer who was recorded in probate records in 1552. Another notable individual with this surname was Richard Wrigglesworth, who was baptized in 1596 in the village of Bingley, Yorkshire. He is noted for being one of the early settlers in the burgeoning industrial society of northern England during the early 17th century.

The name also appears in ecclesiastical records. Reverend Thomas Wrigglesworth, born in 1731 and died in 1801, was an Anglican clergyman who served as the vicar of St. Mary’s Church in Kirk Fenton, Yorkshire. His tenure was marked by efforts to improve local education and community welfare.

In the 19th century, George Wrigglesworth, born in 1805, was known for his involvement in the woolen industry, which was a major industry in Yorkshire. He was a prominent merchant and contributed significantly to the local economy.

Dr. William Wrigglesworth, who lived from 1872 to 1935, was a noted medical practitioner in Leeds. He made significant contributions to public health and was involved in the establishment of several medical facilities in the region.

Throughout history, the surname Wrigglesworth is predominantly associated with Yorkshire, and it has remained relatively localized in that region as compared to some other English surnames. While the original village of Wrigglesworth may not be prominent today, the legacy of the name lives on through the historical records and the individuals who have carried it through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wrigglesworth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wrigglesworth 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. Yorkshire leads with 585 Wrigglesworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.92x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 585 7.92x
Middlesex 34 0.46x
Derbyshire 21 1.80x
Durham 18 0.81x
Lancashire 18 0.20x
Northumberland 18 1.62x
Nottinghamshire 16 1.59x
Surrey 12 0.33x
Norfolk 11 0.96x
Herefordshire 8 2.62x
Essex 4 0.27x
Huntingdonshire 4 2.70x
Lincolnshire 3 0.25x
Staffordshire 3 0.12x
Sussex 3 0.24x
Hertfordshire 2 0.39x
Northamptonshire 2 0.29x
Kent 1 0.04x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sherburn in Yorkshire leads with 46 Wrigglesworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 757.83x.

Place Total Index
Sherburn 46 757.83x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 35 102.01x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 32 534.22x
Sculcoates 31 26.48x
Thorner 28 1171.55x
Leeds 27 6.47x
Great Driffield 21 138.52x
Hunslet 21 18.24x
Camberwell 12 2.52x
Cleckheaton 12 44.12x
Worksop 12 40.28x
York St Mary 12 39.23x
Armley 11 33.77x
Knaresborough 11 94.83x
York St Maurice 11 79.08x
Castleford 10 37.19x
Barwick In Elmet 9 159.01x
St George Bloomsbury 9 21.05x
Thornaby 9 32.61x
Leominster 8 63.24x
Westoe 8 6.36x
Wetherby 8 166.32x
Worsbrough 8 36.97x
Amble 7 138.61x
Barnham Broom 7 614.04x
Hipperholme Cum 7 21.57x
Huddersfield 7 6.51x
Lockwood 7 26.35x
New Malton 7 79.28x
Newington 7 34.41x
Norton 7 72.77x
Pudsey 7 17.73x
Rossington 7 777.78x
Rothwell 7 46.92x
Sheffield 7 2.98x
York St Saviour 7 99.29x
Brimington 6 67.72x
Great Bolton 6 5.12x
Lastingham 6 1276.60x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 6 66.67x
Batley 5 7.12x
Edmonton 5 8.33x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 10.52x
Heworth 5 260.42x
Huddleston Cum Lumby 5 819.67x
Kensington London 5 1.21x
Mirfield 5 12.33x
Nether Hallam 5 5.00x
Pocklington 5 71.74x
Sutton Stoneferry 5 23.66x
Topcliffe 5 318.47x
Whittington 5 30.98x
Acomb 4 103.63x
Alnwick 4 20.99x
Bugthorpe 4 655.74x
Clayton 4 22.14x
Holy Trinity 4 2.25x
Horbury 4 30.96x
St Marylebone London 4 1.01x
St Pancras London 4 0.67x
Stranton 4 5.36x
Tickhill 4 84.93x
Wakefield 4 7.05x
Warmfield Cum Heath 4 160.64x
West Ham 4 1.23x
Woodstone 4 170.94x
Wyke In Bradford 4 30.28x
York St Cuthbert 4 59.17x
Almondbury 3 8.40x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 3 11.19x
Gomersal 3 8.70x
Islington London 3 0.42x
Langthorpe 3 344.83x
Linthwaite 3 19.33x
Lower Whitley 3 300.00x
Manningham 3 3.30x
Rokeby 3 600.00x
Shilbottle 3 275.23x
Wortley In Bramley 3 5.13x
York St Martin Le Grand 3 297.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Sarah 31
Elizabeth 26
Ann 24
Jane 17
Eliza 16
Hannah 16
Alice 13
Annie 12
Emma 10
Emily 8
Margaret 8
Ellen 7
Martha 6
Ada 5
Clara 5
Harriet 5
Edith 4
Florence 4
Maria 4
Elizth. 3
Isabel 3
Louisa 3
Rhoda 3
Susannah 3
A. 2
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Elisabeth 2
Eliz. 2
Isabella 2
Janet 2
Kate 2
Lillie 2
Louise 2
Lucy 2
Phoebe 2
Sophia 2
Susanna 2
Amonica 1
Barbara 1
Betsey 1
Dinah 1
E.H. 1
Eleanor 1
Harriott 1
Henriette 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 52
George 35
William 35
Thomas 26
Joseph 19
Arthur 14
Henry 14
Charles 13
James 13
Richard 12
Robert 12
Edward 11
Walter 8
Wm. 8
Frederick 7
Alfred 6
Geo. 6
Harry 6
Samuel 6
Jno. 5
David 4
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Herbert 3
Tom 3
Aaron 2
Benjamin 2
Bentley 2
Chas. 2
Jas. 2
Joe 2
Jos. 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Ben 1
Benj. 1
Christopher 1
Chs. 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Georg 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Lofthouse 1

FAQ

Wrigglesworth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wrigglesworth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 763 people were recorded with the Wrigglesworth surname. That placed it at #4,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wrigglesworth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,029 in 2016. That gives Wrigglesworth a modern rank of #5,676.

What does the Wrigglesworth surname mean?

A surname originating from a location name meaning a settlement among wriggling or twisting streams.

What does the Wrigglesworth map show?

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