NameCensus.

UK surname

Wyeth

A surname derived from the Old English word "withy", meaning a flexible willow branch or twig.

In the 1881 census there were 457 people recorded with the Wyeth surname, ranking it #7,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 782, ranked #7,053, up from #7,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, South Stoneham and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Elmbridge, Southampton and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wyeth is 813 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.1%.

1881 census count

457

Ranked #7,240

Modern count

782

2016, ranked #7,053

Peak year

1998

813 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wyeth had 457 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 782 in 2016, ranked #7,053.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 730 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wyeth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wyeth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wyeth 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 265 #8,395
1861 historical 234 #10,463
1881 historical 457 #7,240
1891 historical 479 #7,684
1901 historical 586 #7,201
1911 historical 730 #5,868
1997 modern 791 #6,593
1998 modern 813 #6,673
1999 modern 801 #6,782
2000 modern 792 #6,831
2001 modern 763 #6,900
2002 modern 781 #6,910
2003 modern 749 #7,027
2004 modern 760 #6,956
2005 modern 747 #6,986
2006 modern 742 #7,042
2007 modern 744 #7,100
2008 modern 760 #7,040
2009 modern 770 #7,099
2010 modern 786 #7,129
2011 modern 767 #7,181
2012 modern 769 #7,093
2013 modern 793 #7,011
2014 modern 795 #7,037
2015 modern 796 #6,960
2016 modern 782 #7,053

Geography

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Where Wyeths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, South Stoneham, Southampton St Mary and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Elmbridge, Southampton, East Hampshire and Eastleigh. 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 South Stoneham Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Elmbridge 003 Elmbridge
2 Southampton 028 Southampton
3 East Hampshire 007 East Hampshire
4 Southampton 016 Southampton
5 Eastleigh 009 Eastleigh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wyeth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wyeth

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Wyeth 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

Wyeth is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wyeth falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wyeth

The surname Wyeth has its origins in England and can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is believed to have been derived from the Old English word wiðig, which means "withy" or "willow tree". This suggests that the surname may have initially been used as a topographical name for someone who lived near a willow tree or a willow grove.

The Wyeth name was predominantly found in the regions of Hampshire and Wiltshire. It is worth noting that the spelling of the surname has variated through history, with early records showing it as Wythe, Wyth, and Wyeth. The surname first appeared in historical documents in the 11th and 12th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which listed a person named William de Wividu. This early record indicates the presence of the surname in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

During the medieval period, the Wyeth family was primarily associated with rural areas, where they likely engaged in agricultural or carpentry work, given the connection to willow trees. The surname evolved slightly over the centuries, but its core meaning remained consistent.

One notable individual with this surname is John Wyeth, born in 1770 and died in 1858. He was an American publisher and one of the early contributors to the shape-note singing tradition in American folk music. John's publication "Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music" significantly influenced religious and musical practices in early America.

Moving forward in history, N. C. Wyeth (Newell Convers Wyeth), born in 1882 and died in 1945, stands out as a famous American artist and illustrator. He is best known for his works of illustration, including the celebrated book Treasure Island, which brought him considerable acclaim. His legacy continued through his son Andrew Wyeth, born in 1917 and died in 2009, who became one of the most famous American painters of the 20th century, renowned for his realistic style.

In contemporary history, Andrew's son, Jamie Wyeth, born in 1946, has carried on the family's artistic tradition. Jamie is acclaimed for his portraits and landscapes, continuing the Wyeth legacy of contributing significantly to the American art scene.

Throughout history, the surname Wyeth has remained relatively rare, its bearers nonetheless making significant impacts in various fields. The Wyeth lineage, especially in the arts, reflects a rich cultural and historical heritage stemming from its ancient English roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wyeth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wyeth 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. Hampshire leads with 192 Wyeths recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.01x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 192 21.01x
Surrey 106 4.88x
Middlesex 61 1.37x
Berkshire 45 13.45x
Sussex 16 2.13x
Essex 7 0.80x
Staffordshire 6 0.40x
Lancashire 5 0.09x
Warwickshire 5 0.44x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.11x
Cornwall 3 0.59x
Durham 2 0.15x
Kent 2 0.13x
Dorset 1 0.34x
Hertfordshire 1 0.33x
Northamptonshire 1 0.24x
Worcestershire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reading St Mary in Berkshire leads with 25 Wyeths recorded in 1881 and an index of 93.28x.

Place Total Index
Reading St Mary 25 93.28x
South Stoneham 24 121.09x
Camberwell 20 7.02x
Chawton 20 2777.78x
Lambeth 20 5.15x
Basingstoke 15 142.72x
Reading St Giles 15 45.69x
Wootton St Lawrence 14 921.05x
Hammersmith London 12 10.93x
Medstead 11 1428.57x
Southampton St Mary 11 19.14x
St George Hanover 11 18.90x
Epsom 10 94.43x
Brighton 9 5.94x
Godalming 9 65.84x
Ropley 9 671.64x
St Mary Extra 9 122.45x
Southampton All Sts 8 51.02x
Alton 7 101.60x
Bermondsey 7 5.27x
Botolphs 6 4285.71x
Chilton Candover 6 2608.70x
Croydon 6 4.98x
Handsworth 6 16.18x
Mattingley 6 769.23x
Newington 6 3.64x
Ratcliffe London 6 24.37x
Sherfield Upon Loddon 6 612.24x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 6.69x
Battersea 5 3.05x
St Bartholomew Hyde 5 228.31x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.07x
Dummer 4 666.67x
Leyton 4 26.39x
Sutton 4 25.45x
Tadley 4 258.06x
Aldershot 3 9.80x
Ardwick 3 6.29x
Aston 3 0.97x
Dibden 3 389.61x
Isleworth 3 15.14x
North Waltham 3 476.19x
Padstow 3 89.55x
Rotherhithe 3 5.45x
Sherborne St John 3 306.12x
St Thomas Winchester 3 46.51x
Stoke Newington London 3 8.64x
Weeke 3 108.30x
Westminster St John 3 5.53x
Birmingham 2 0.53x
Bramshill 2 952.38x
Chelsea London 2 1.49x
Easthampstead 2 111.73x
Frimley 2 32.31x
Hindley 2 8.87x
Islington London 2 0.46x
Kingston On Thames 2 3.83x
Mile End Old Town 2 2.84x
Paddington London 2 1.22x
St Marylebone London 2 0.84x
Twickenham 2 10.47x
Twyford 2 91.74x
Walton On Thames 2 20.06x
Wycombe 2 9.96x
Andover 1 11.59x
Cholsey 1 37.74x
Church Oakley 1 222.22x
Dorking 1 6.86x
Guildford Friary 1 147.06x
Hackney London 1 0.40x
Holnest 1 666.67x
Linchmere 1 188.68x
Little Easton 1 222.22x
Margate St John Baptist 1 3.59x
North Stoneham 1 48.08x
Northfleet 1 7.46x
St Pancras London 1 0.28x
Stevenage 1 21.01x
Stockton On Tees 1 1.56x
Titchfield 1 14.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Emily 12
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 11
Eliza 9
Emma 9
Alice 8
Edith 8
Ellen 8
Jane 8
Annie 7
Charlotte 7
Martha 7
Ann 6
Florence 6
Hannah 4
Matilda 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Lucy 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Francis 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Angelina 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Dorcas 1
Elise 1
Elizebth. 1
Elmily 1
Ethel 1
Euphemia 1
Eva 1
Henrietta 1
Jeanette 1
Katherine 1
Kezia 1
Lillie 1
Lily 1
Louie 1
Louise 1
Susie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 29
William 22
George 19
Charles 16
John 13
Walter 12
Henry 11
Alfred 9
Frederick 8
Robert 7
Albert 6
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Geo. 5
Thomas 5
Daniel 4
Arthur 3
Hubert 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
David 2
Edward 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Percy 2
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Edgar 1
Elijah 1
F.W. 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Maurice 1
Millicent 1
Oswald 1
Randal 1
Raymond 1
Rowland 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wyeth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wyeth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 457 people were recorded with the Wyeth surname. That placed it at #7,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wyeth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 782 in 2016. That gives Wyeth a modern rank of #7,053.

What does the Wyeth surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "withy", meaning a flexible willow branch or twig.

What does the Wyeth map show?

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