NameCensus.

UK surname

Wyld

An old English surname referring to an individual living in or near a wild, barren area.

In the 1881 census there were 572 people recorded with the Wyld surname, ranking it #6,084 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 662, ranked #8,057, down from #6,084 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Eastwood. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Derbyshire, East Hertfordshire and Pendle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wyld is 725 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.7%.

1881 census count

572

Ranked #6,084

Modern count

662

2016, ranked #8,057

Peak year

1911

725 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wyld had 572 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,084 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 662 in 2016, ranked #8,057.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 725 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wyld surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wyld surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wyld 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 346 #6,798
1861 historical 396 #6,476
1881 historical 572 #6,084
1891 historical 580 #6,577
1901 historical 647 #6,665
1911 historical 725 #5,900
1997 modern 683 #7,380
1998 modern 693 #7,538
1999 modern 698 #7,533
2000 modern 702 #7,473
2001 modern 679 #7,532
2002 modern 696 #7,546
2003 modern 655 #7,798
2004 modern 629 #8,041
2005 modern 618 #8,081
2006 modern 613 #8,151
2007 modern 623 #8,114
2008 modern 629 #8,112
2009 modern 651 #8,057
2010 modern 661 #8,133
2011 modern 644 #8,215
2012 modern 627 #8,308
2013 modern 665 #8,068
2014 modern 671 #8,046
2015 modern 664 #8,056
2016 modern 662 #8,057

Geography

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Where Wylds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Eastwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Derbyshire, East Hertfordshire, Pendle, East Lindsey and Isle of Wight. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Eastwood Nottinghamshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Derbyshire 012 North East Derbyshire
2 East Hertfordshire 001 East Hertfordshire
3 Pendle 010 Pendle
4 East Lindsey 013 East Lindsey
5 Isle of Wight 002 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wyld

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wyld

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Wyld 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

Wyld 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

Wyld falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wyld

The surname Wyld has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is predominantly associated with the northern and central regions of England, where it first appeared in records from the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "wilde," which means wild or uncultivated, possibly referring to someone who lived near uncultivated land or was perceived to have a free-spirited nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wyld can be found in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1260, where a William le Wylde is mentioned. This suggests that the surname had been established by this time and was used to identify individuals in legal and administrative documents. Similarly, the Hundred Rolls—a census-like survey conducted in 1273—include references to the name, highlighting its prevalence in medieval England.

Another notable occurrence is in the Domesday Book, although it does not directly list the surname Wyld, certain areas with similar root words like "Wylde" appear as place names suggestive of uncultivated land. Over time, the spelling of the surname has remained relatively stable, though variations such as Wild, Wilde, and Wylde are occasionally found in historical records.

In terms of notable historical figures, Sir Charles Wyld, born in 1605 and died in 1671, was a distinguished English landowner known for his extensive estates in Cheshire. Another significant individual is Joseph Wyld, born circa 1800, a noted industrialist and inventor who contributed to the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution. His innovations in machinery earned him considerable acclaim in the early 19th century.

Wyld’s popularity extended into the arts and academia with John Wyld, born in 1820 and died in 1906, a renowned painter whose works were exhibited in several prestigious galleries across England. He played a crucial role in the Victorian art movement and was one of the founding members of the Society of British Artists.

George Wyld, born in 1834 and died in 1908, was a prominent figure in the field of medicine, particularly known for his work as a physician and homeopath. His writings contributed significantly to medical literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, making him a well-respected authority in his field.

Lastly, another influential bearer of the surname was Thomas Wyld, born in 1790 and died in 1864, an educator and linguist who made substantial contributions to the understanding and teaching of classical languages in English schools. His methods and publications on the subject were widely recognized and adopted, leaving a lasting impact on academic circles.

In summary, the surname Wyld has a rich history with roots in the medieval period of England. It has been associated with various notable individuals across multiple fields, from landownership and industry to arts, medicine, and education, all of whom have contributed significantly to their respective domains.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wyld families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wyld 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 61 Wylds recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 61 0.92x
Surrey 56 2.06x
Derbyshire 54 6.17x
Middlesex 54 0.97x
Staffordshire 54 2.86x
Nottinghamshire 52 6.90x
Wiltshire 38 7.69x
Durham 31 1.86x
Berkshire 25 5.96x
Gloucestershire 23 2.10x
Lanarkshire 21 1.16x
Yorkshire 18 0.33x
Midlothian 10 1.34x
Devon 9 0.77x
Kent 8 0.42x
Essex 7 0.63x
Oxfordshire 7 2.03x
Lincolnshire 6 0.67x
Glamorgan 5 0.51x
Somerset 5 0.56x
Norfolk 4 0.47x
Worcestershire 4 0.55x
Dorset 3 0.82x
Leicestershire 3 0.48x
Shropshire 3 0.62x
Sussex 3 0.32x
Herefordshire 2 0.87x
Bedfordshire 1 0.35x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Monmouthshire 1 0.25x
Northumberland 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.50x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worsthorne Cum in Lancashire leads with 28 Wylds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1327.01x.

Place Total Index
Worsthorne Cum 28 1327.01x
Kingswinford 22 32.12x
Lambeth 22 4.51x
Sedgley 19 27.11x
Pittington 18 384.62x
Eastwood 17 252.23x
Kensington London 17 5.47x
Burnley 16 28.65x
Nottingham St Mary 15 7.70x
Claylane 11 90.46x
Cranleigh 11 275.69x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 27.36x
Ripley 10 92.42x
Barony 9 1.97x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 2.99x
Calverton 8 336.13x
Great Bedwin 8 227.92x
Tibshelf 8 186.48x
Bishop Auckland 7 31.38x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 6.78x
Fernilee 7 344.83x
Warminster 7 64.64x
Clee With Weelsby 6 30.66x
Heanor 6 45.84x
Middleton In Oldham 6 30.17x
Pewsey 6 164.84x
Topsham 6 109.29x
Whitechapel London 6 10.89x
Woodborough 6 352.94x
Woolvercot 6 428.57x
Auckland St Helen 5 285.71x
Burntwood Edial 5 41.49x
Camberwell 5 1.40x
Chieveley 5 224.22x
Froxfield 5 602.41x
Glossop Dale 5 12.20x
Horbury 5 51.60x
Newbury 5 37.20x
Newton 5 9.78x
Rochester St Margaret 5 24.86x
Salisbury St Martin 5 97.28x
St Luke London 5 5.58x
St Marylebone London 5 1.68x
Walthamstow 5 12.59x
Wednesfield 5 18.01x
Willesden 5 9.49x
Woodborough 5 657.89x
Battersea 4 1.94x
Bergh Apton 4 444.44x
Bristol St Paul In 4 13.70x
Cadder 4 29.96x
Farnborough 4 1111.11x
Idle 4 15.58x
Aberavon 3 33.48x
Bermondsey 3 1.80x
East Kilbride 3 38.76x
Fulham London 3 3.70x
Glasgow 3 0.93x
Heage 3 64.79x
Huddersfield 3 3.72x
Lenton 3 16.90x
Locking 3 1250.00x
Lyme Regis 3 68.34x
Oldbury 3 8.35x
Shalbourn 3 191.08x
St George Hanover 3 4.11x
Belton 2 253.16x
Chelsea London 2 1.19x
Clewer 2 11.63x
Clifton 2 3.61x
Dawley 2 11.38x
Dunnington In York 2 140.85x
Eastbourne 2 4.61x
Hulme 2 1.44x
Kew 2 126.58x
Liverpool 2 0.50x
Mortimer 2 99.50x
New Windsor 2 14.18x
Newington 2 0.97x
Yalding 2 41.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 30
John 29
George 17
James 17
Joseph 11
Frederick 10
Henry 10
Edward 8
Robert 8
Samuel 8
Thomas 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Alfred 6
Charles 6
Walter 5
Harry 4
Edwin 3
Richard 3
Benjm. 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Joshua 2
Stephen 2
Basil 1
Charley 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Emanuel 1
Evan 1
Fairfa 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Gawin 1
Harold 1
Islah 1
Jabez 1
Jenkin 1
Lawrance 1
Leonard 1
Nat 1
Nathaniel 1
Noah 1
Norman 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Wyld surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wyld surname in 1881?

In 1881, 572 people were recorded with the Wyld surname. That placed it at #6,084 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wyld surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 662 in 2016. That gives Wyld a modern rank of #8,057.

What does the Wyld surname mean?

An old English surname referring to an individual living in or near a wild, barren area.

What does the Wyld map show?

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