NameCensus.

UK surname

Wyke

A locational surname deriving from any of various places called "Wyke" or "Wick".

In the 1881 census there were 294 people recorded with the Wyke surname, ranking it #9,859 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 529, ranked #9,589, up from #9,859 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Withington, Dawley, Magna and Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Redcar and Cleveland and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wyke is 536 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.9%.

1881 census count

294

Ranked #9,859

Modern count

529

2016, ranked #9,589

Peak year

2011

536 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wyke had 294 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,859 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016, ranked #9,589.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 494 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Wyke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wyke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wyke 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 212 #9,965
1861 historical 256 #9,667
1881 historical 294 #9,859
1891 historical 379 #9,254
1901 historical 430 #9,000
1911 historical 494 #7,886
1997 modern 486 #9,500
1998 modern 499 #9,600
1999 modern 496 #9,713
2000 modern 500 #9,632
2001 modern 497 #9,516
2002 modern 519 #9,390
2003 modern 503 #9,446
2004 modern 505 #9,453
2005 modern 506 #9,367
2006 modern 508 #9,369
2007 modern 510 #9,432
2008 modern 513 #9,454
2009 modern 532 #9,402
2010 modern 528 #9,651
2011 modern 536 #9,468
2012 modern 512 #9,693
2013 modern 527 #9,652
2014 modern 518 #9,833
2015 modern 519 #9,753
2016 modern 529 #9,589

Geography

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Where Wykes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Withington, Dawley, Magna, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Wolverhampton and Childwall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Redcar and Cleveland, Sandwell, Walsall and Wigan. 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 Withington Shropshire
2 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
3 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
4 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
5 Childwall Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 030 Shropshire
2 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Sandwell 013 Sandwell
4 Walsall 027 Walsall
5 Wigan 013 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wyke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wyke

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Wyke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Wyke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Wyke is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wyke is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wyke 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 Wyke 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 Wyke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wyke

The surname Wyke has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is primarily associated with areas in the West Country, particularly in Devon and Somerset. The name Wyke is derived from the Old English word wic, meaning a dairy farm or settlement. This term traces its roots further back to the Latin vicus, which also means a village or hamlet.

Records show that the name Wyke appeared in notable historical documents. One of the earliest references is the Domesday Book of 1086, where various forms of the name wic are found to denote places. The consistent connection to geographical locations indicates that the surname likely originated as a topographical name, referring to someone who lived near or worked at such a settlement.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname Wyke include Richard del Wike in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297. Another notable instance is John atte Wyke, appearing in the Somerset Assize Rolls of 1351. These records suggest that the surname was already established by the 14th century, highlighting the historical significance and endurance of the name.

Place names related to Wyke are abundant in England, with towns and villages such as Wyke in Yorkshire, Wyke Regis in Dorset, and Wyke Champflower in Somerset. These place names reinforce the topographical roots of the surname and its widespread use across various regions.

Historically significant figures bearing the surname Wyke include Robert Wyke, born in 1600, who was known for his contributions to early cartography in England. Another individual, Thomas Wyke, an English painter born in 1710, gained recognition for his landscapes and historical scenes. Reverend George Wyke, born in 1765, was a prominent clergyman in Devon who played a vital role in local educational reforms. Eleanor Wyke, an author and social reformer born in 1843, was known for her written works on Victorian society and her advocacy for women’s rights. Lastly, James Wyke, an industrial pioneer born in 1851, made significant advancements in textile manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution.

Throughout history, the surname Wyke has maintained its connection to its geographical and occupational roots, evolving through various forms and adaptations. Its presence in historical documents and the achievements of its bearers underscore the enduring legacy of the name in English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wyke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wyke 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 65 Wykes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.90x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 65 1.90x
Yorkshire 63 2.21x
Shropshire 61 24.54x
Staffordshire 50 5.15x
Middlesex 10 0.35x
Surrey 8 0.57x
Cheshire 7 1.10x
Monmouthshire 6 2.88x
Warwickshire 5 0.69x
Montgomeryshire 4 6.07x
Devon 3 0.50x
Kent 3 0.31x
Durham 2 0.23x
Worcestershire 2 0.53x
Derbyshire 1 0.22x
Flintshire 1 1.29x
Hampshire 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.23x
Northamptonshire 1 0.37x
Somerset 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesfield in Yorkshire leads with 31 Wykes recorded in 1881 and an index of 148.25x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesfield 31 148.25x
Cannock 17 100.30x
Wrockwardine 12 219.38x
Dawley 10 110.50x
Preston 10 10.95x
Everton 9 8.27x
Garston 9 89.29x
Shrewsbury St Mary 9 91.74x
Berrington 8 824.74x
Sheffield 8 8.81x
Walsall Foreign 8 15.95x
Willenhall 8 43.98x
Frodesley 7 3043.48x
Methley 7 174.56x
Abergavenny 6 77.02x
Barnsley 6 20.40x
Barugh 6 248.96x
Richmond 6 30.53x
West Bromwich 6 10.79x
Withington 6 2307.69x
Farnworth 5 24.44x
Upton Magna 5 1086.96x
Birmingham 4 1.65x
Essington 4 312.50x
Islington London 4 1.43x
Much Woolton 4 86.39x
Newton 4 15.20x
Pool 4 80.48x
Bilston 3 15.94x
Castleton 3 8.80x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 5.53x
Hammersmith London 3 4.23x
Kenn 3 322.58x
Tonbridge 3 8.47x
Toxteth Park 3 2.59x
Wavertree 3 27.45x
Barrow In Furness 2 4.31x
Broughton In Salford 2 6.41x
Chester St Martin 2 198.02x
Hoole 2 83.33x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 11.97x
Newchurch 2 7.16x
St Marylebone London 2 1.30x
Stockport 2 6.12x
Wellington 2 14.32x
Wooldale 2 41.32x
Astley 1 434.78x
Bedminster 1 2.30x
Croydon 1 1.28x
Derby St Peter 1 6.97x
Edgbaston 1 4.44x
Elton 1 8.47x
Ercall Magna 1 56.18x
Habergham Eaves 1 3.20x
Handsworth 1 4.18x
Leigh 1 21.93x
Little Bolton 1 2.28x
Northampton St Giles 1 9.70x
Northop 1 36.50x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 45.05x
Paddington London 1 0.95x
Pensax 1 212.77x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 13.68x
Prestwich 1 11.74x
Rothwell 1 17.36x
Rushall 1 17.48x
Salford 1 1.00x
Thurlstone 1 35.59x
Upper Arley 1 138.89x
Upper Penn 1 41.15x
Ventnor 1 17.83x
Wakefield 1 4.57x
West Derby 1 1.00x
West Moulsey 1 153.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 12
Ann 11
Sarah 9
Margaret 7
Emily 6
Jane 6
Ellen 5
Fanny 5
Emma 4
Alice 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Rosanna 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Charlotte 1
E...nlye 1
Eda 1
Elizth.Jane 1
Emy 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Leonora 1
Louisa 1
Maggie 1
Marrion 1
Maude 1
Minne 1
Mirian 1
Myra 1
Namoie 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Rosannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Wyke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wyke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 294 people were recorded with the Wyke surname. That placed it at #9,859 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wyke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016. That gives Wyke a modern rank of #9,589.

What does the Wyke surname mean?

A locational surname deriving from any of various places called "Wyke" or "Wick".

What does the Wyke map show?

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