NameCensus.

UK surname

Wrobel

A Polish occupational surname referring to a sparrow, derived from the Polish word "wróbel."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Bonnyrigg North and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wrobel is 739 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

739

2016, ranked #7,386

Peak year

2016

739 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 739 in 2016, ranked #7,386.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Wrobel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wrobel surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wrobel 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
1997 modern 151 #21,034
1998 modern 164 #20,505
1999 modern 175 #19,798
2000 modern 166 #20,426
2001 modern 159 #20,710
2002 modern 162 #20,839
2003 modern 180 #19,347
2004 modern 193 #18,622
2005 modern 247 #15,763
2006 modern 350 #12,448
2007 modern 415 #11,047
2008 modern 470 #10,102
2009 modern 506 #9,759
2010 modern 551 #9,354
2011 modern 555 #9,200
2012 modern 649 #8,084
2013 modern 690 #7,817
2014 modern 714 #7,654
2015 modern 715 #7,601
2016 modern 739 #7,386

Geography

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Where Wrobels 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 Swindon, Bonnyrigg North, Gwynedd, Wandsworth and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Swindon 020 Swindon
2 Bonnyrigg North Midlothian
3 Gwynedd 017 Gwynedd
4 Wandsworth 037 Wandsworth
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 014 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wrobel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wrobel

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Wrobel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Wrobel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Wrobel is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wrobel 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

Wrobel falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wrobel 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Wrobel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wrobel

The surname WROBEL originated in Poland, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Polish word "wróbel," which means "sparrow." It likely referred to someone who had a physical or personality trait resembling a sparrow, such as being small, agile, or lively.

The earliest recorded instances of the WROBEL surname can be found in medieval Polish records and documents. In the 14th century, a man named Janek Wrobel was mentioned in the court records of the city of Krakow. Other early spellings of the name included Vrobel, Wróbel, and Wroblewski, which incorporated the Slavic patronymic suffix "-ski."

One notable bearer of the WROBEL surname was Jan Wrobel, a Polish astronomer and mathematician who lived from 1589 to 1657. He was a professor at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

Another historical figure with the WROBEL surname was Stanislaw Wrobel, a Polish military officer who fought in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921. He was born in 1892 and served as a commander in the Polish Army, playing a crucial role in defending his homeland against the Soviet invasion.

In the 18th century, a famous Polish painter named Piotr Wrobel (1718-1782) gained recognition for his religious paintings and portraits. His works can be found in various churches and museums across Poland.

The WROBEL surname also has a connection to a village in southeastern Poland called Wróblik, which means "small sparrow" in Polish. This village likely took its name from the WROBEL family who may have been among its earliest settlers or landowners.

Another notable bearer of the WROBEL surname was Franciszek Wrobel (1842-1912), a Polish architect and urban planner who designed numerous buildings and public spaces in Warsaw and other cities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Wrobel surname: questions and answers

How common is the Wrobel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 739 in 2016. That gives Wrobel a modern rank of #7,386.

What does the Wrobel surname mean?

A Polish occupational surname referring to a sparrow, derived from the Polish word "wróbel."

What does the Wrobel map show?

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