NameCensus.

UK surname

Wroe

A place surname likely derived from the location Wroe in Lancashire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,247 people recorded with the Wroe surname, ranking it #3,262 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,669, ranked #3,739, down from #3,262 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wroe is 1,868 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.8%.

1881 census count

1,247

Ranked #3,262

Modern count

1,669

2016, ranked #3,739

Peak year

1911

1,868 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wroe had 1,247 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,262 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,669 in 2016, ranked #3,739.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,868 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Wroe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wroe surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wroe 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 841 #3,230
1861 historical 615 #4,330
1881 historical 1,247 #3,262
1891 historical 1,314 #3,306
1901 historical 1,615 #3,202
1911 historical 1,868 #2,647
1997 modern 1,667 #3,565
1998 modern 1,701 #3,632
1999 modern 1,691 #3,676
2000 modern 1,695 #3,651
2001 modern 1,668 #3,635
2002 modern 1,682 #3,676
2003 modern 1,663 #3,651
2004 modern 1,627 #3,716
2005 modern 1,605 #3,728
2006 modern 1,580 #3,768
2007 modern 1,609 #3,749
2008 modern 1,618 #3,756
2009 modern 1,639 #3,801
2010 modern 1,664 #3,832
2011 modern 1,686 #3,736
2012 modern 1,644 #3,749
2013 modern 1,677 #3,745
2014 modern 1,699 #3,724
2015 modern 1,675 #3,736
2016 modern 1,669 #3,739

Geography

Back to top

Where Wroes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Eccles, Manchester, Darfield and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley and Bradford. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Darfield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 028 Barnsley
2 Barnsley 030 Barnsley
3 Barnsley 018 Barnsley
4 Bradford 052 Bradford
5 Barnsley 012 Barnsley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wroe

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wroe

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Wroe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wroe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Wroe 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

Wroe 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

Wroe 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 Wroe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wroe

The surname Wroe originates from England, with roots tracing back to the early medieval period. This name is primarily associated with the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. The earliest documentation of the name appears in the 13th century, a time when surnames were becoming hereditary and reflecting familial or geographical connections.

The name Wroe is derived from the Old English word "wrā," which means corner or nook, suggesting that the original bearers of the name lived near a distinctive bend or corner in the landscape. This is indicative of a topographical surname, a common practice during the medieval era where geographical features influenced the naming conventions.

Historical manuscripts and records document the existence of the surname in various forms. The Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1379, mention a Richard de Wrae, illustrating an early occurrence of the name in written records. The variation in spelling, such as Wrae and Wro, highlights the fluid orthographical practices of the time, before the standardization of the English language.

The earliest recorded example of the name in a significant document is found in the 1524 Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire, where a Thomas Wroe is listed. This indicates the continuity and establishment of the surname in northern England over several centuries. Another early mention is of John Wroe in 1590, in the parish records of Halifax, Yorkshire, illustrating the spread of the name within the region.

The surname has been carried by several notable individuals throughout history. John Wroe, born in 1782 and died in 1863, was a prominent religious leader who founded the Christian Israelite Church. Another significant figure is Alfred Wroe, an English footballer born in 1872 who made substantial contributions to the sport during his career. Thomas Wroe, who was active in the 17th century, held a position as a merchant and was a notable citizen in the town of Leeds.

In addition to individuals, the surname Wroe is connected to certain place names and localities. For example, Wroe Hall in Lancashire, a historic estate, suggests the influence and establishment of the family in that area. The usage of the surname in various records from manorial rolls to tax documents underscores its historical presence and significance in the social fabric of medieval and early modern England.

Overall, the surname Wroe has deep roots in northern England with a significant historical presence documented through various records and notable individuals who bore the name, reflecting its long-standing legacy in British history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wroe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wroe 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. Lancashire leads with 656 Wroes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.59x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 656 4.59x
Yorkshire 467 3.91x
Cheshire 51 1.92x
Glamorgan 14 0.67x
Derbyshire 8 0.42x
Staffordshire 7 0.17x
Lincolnshire 6 0.31x
Surrey 6 0.10x
Durham 4 0.11x
Merionethshire 3 1.36x
Middlesex 3 0.02x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.18x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Kent 1 0.02x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 71 Wroes recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.40x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 71 15.40x
Worsbrough 70 200.29x
Barton Upon Irwell 53 49.29x
Barrowford Booth 36 227.70x
Bury 35 21.45x
Newton 35 31.79x
Pendleton In Salford 34 19.98x
Manchester 32 4.98x
Dukinfield 28 22.80x
Bowling 26 22.01x
Ecclesfield 26 29.73x
Ashton Under Lyne 25 8.01x
Salford 24 5.71x
Clifton 22 205.22x
Middleton In Oldham 22 51.37x
Broughton In Salford 21 16.08x
Manningham 19 12.93x
Barnsley 18 14.63x
Dewsbury 18 14.71x
Pilkington 16 29.49x
Wombwell 16 46.00x
Elton 15 30.40x
Pontefract 15 58.37x
Darfield 14 128.91x
Stainbrough 14 633.48x
Leeds 13 1.93x
Openshaw 13 19.43x
Swansea Town 13 7.57x
Chadderton 12 17.18x
Cheetham 12 11.26x
Moston 12 83.74x
Rastrick 12 36.22x
Ardwick 11 8.54x
Embsay Cum Eastby 11 228.22x
Habergham Eaves 11 8.43x
Hulme 11 3.69x
Prestwich 11 30.87x
Addingham 9 101.01x
Batley 9 7.94x
Castleton 9 6.31x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 9 16.24x
Bradford 8 2.77x
Failsworth 8 24.48x
Holy Trinity St Mary 8 44.05x
Hoyland Nether 8 27.34x
York St Mary 8 16.19x
Brierley 7 350.00x
Darton 7 57.28x
Flockton 7 143.74x
Gorton 7 5.21x
Horbury 7 33.54x
Huddersfield 7 4.03x
Liverpool 7 0.81x
Pennington In Leigh 7 25.54x
Saddleworth 7 7.61x
South Hiendley 7 463.58x
Staveley 7 20.93x
Stockport 7 5.12x
Tanshelf 7 73.45x
Thornhill 7 20.11x
Tonge 7 23.36x
Wolstanton 7 5.67x
Butterworth 6 17.24x
Goole 6 30.02x
Kearsley 6 19.97x
Moss Side 6 7.98x
Rotherham 6 8.92x
Tankersley 6 67.49x
Burnley 5 4.16x
Cheadle 5 9.85x
Clee With Weelsby 5 11.87x
Didsbury 5 26.36x
Heap 5 6.60x
Hollingworth 5 45.62x
Swinton In Rotherham 5 15.85x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 1.76x
Kirkdale 4 1.66x
Newington 4 0.90x
Sutton 4 8.35x
Toxteth Park 4 0.83x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Wroe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wroe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,247 people were recorded with the Wroe surname. That placed it at #3,262 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wroe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,669 in 2016. That gives Wroe a modern rank of #3,739.

What does the Wroe surname mean?

A place surname likely derived from the location Wroe in Lancashire.

What does the Wroe map show?

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