NameCensus.

UK surname

Wyman

Derived from the Anglo-Saxon given name Wigmund, composed of the elements wig "war" and mund "protection."

In the 1881 census there were 648 people recorded with the Wyman surname, ranking it #5,507 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 675, ranked #7,944, down from #5,507 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, London parishes and Gretton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, South Kesteven and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wyman is 802 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.2%.

1881 census count

648

Ranked #5,507

Modern count

675

2016, ranked #7,944

Peak year

1911

802 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wyman had 648 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,507 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 675 in 2016, ranked #7,944.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 802 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wyman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wyman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wyman 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 453 #5,441
1861 historical 432 #5,954
1881 historical 648 #5,507
1891 historical 661 #5,884
1901 historical 714 #6,181
1911 historical 802 #5,467
1997 modern 669 #7,504
1998 modern 695 #7,514
1999 modern 724 #7,336
2000 modern 706 #7,441
2001 modern 685 #7,485
2002 modern 727 #7,285
2003 modern 706 #7,331
2004 modern 709 #7,320
2005 modern 702 #7,329
2006 modern 702 #7,332
2007 modern 690 #7,507
2008 modern 687 #7,595
2009 modern 697 #7,662
2010 modern 721 #7,606
2011 modern 700 #7,696
2012 modern 686 #7,717
2013 modern 692 #7,800
2014 modern 700 #7,768
2015 modern 686 #7,846
2016 modern 675 #7,944

Geography

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Where Wymans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, London parishes, Gretton and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, South Kesteven, Dudley, North Dorset and Horsham. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gretton Rutland
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 005 Forest of Dean
2 South Kesteven 012 South Kesteven
3 Dudley 013 Dudley
4 North Dorset 003 North Dorset
5 Horsham 013 Horsham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wyman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wyman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Wyman is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wyman 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

Wyman falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wyman

The surname WYMAN is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 11th century in the county of Wiltshire, England. The name is derived from the Old English words "wic" meaning a dwelling or farm, and "mann" meaning a man or person. Therefore, WYMAN likely referred to a person who lived or worked on a farm or village.

During the Middle Ages, the name WYMAN appeared in various historical records and documents. One notable mention was in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Wicmannus" in the county of Somerset. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the WYMAN name was documented in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it was recorded as "Wyman" and "Wyeman". These records provide some of the earliest known written instances of the surname in its more modern form.

Throughout history, several notable individuals bore the WYMAN surname. One of the earliest was John Wyman (c. 1585-1653), an English settler who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638 and became a respected figure in the community of Woburn.

Another prominent WYMAN was Sir Robert Wyman (1570-1636), an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by King James I in 1616.

In the literary world, Jeffries Wyman (1814-1874) was an American naturalist and anatomist who made significant contributions to the field of comparative anatomy. He served as the curator of the Lowell Institute in Boston and was a professor at Harvard University.

Silas Wyman (1768-1842) was an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Ohio. He fought in several battles and later became a prominent figure in the development of the state's Western Reserve region.

Finally, Walter Wyman (1848-1911) was a British architect and designer who is best known for his work on the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden.

While the WYMAN surname has deep historical roots and has been borne by notable individuals throughout the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the humble beginnings of a person associated with a farming community in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wyman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wyman 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. Middlesex leads with 206 Wymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 206 3.26x
Northamptonshire 89 14.97x
Gloucestershire 54 4.36x
Kent 45 2.09x
Hertfordshire 34 7.80x
Lancashire 23 0.31x
Rutland 23 49.56x
Surrey 21 0.68x
Lincolnshire 17 1.68x
Bedfordshire 16 4.89x
Essex 16 1.28x
Staffordshire 14 0.66x
Wiltshire 13 2.33x
Cambridgeshire 8 2.00x
Leicestershire 8 1.14x
Sussex 8 0.75x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.82x
Yorkshire 7 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 5 3.98x
Derbyshire 4 0.40x
Devon 4 0.30x
Somerset 4 0.39x
Cumberland 3 0.55x
Hampshire 3 0.23x
Norfolk 3 0.31x
Angus 2 0.34x
Lanarkshire 2 0.10x
Shropshire 2 0.37x
Warwickshire 2 0.13x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Brecknockshire 1 0.79x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Monmouthshire 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. Gretton in Northamptonshire leads with 33 Wymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1823.20x.

Place Total Index
Gretton 33 1823.20x
Edmonton 18 35.34x
Hammersmith London 18 11.56x
St Pancras London 17 3.34x
Paddington London 16 6.88x
Ridlington 15 2941.18x
Stroud 15 62.16x
Plumstead 13 18.08x
West Ham 12 4.36x
Islington London 11 1.80x
Little Hormead 10 3703.70x
Spittlegate 10 71.53x
Hampstead London 9 9.14x
Harrold 9 405.41x
Kensington London 9 2.56x
Bishops Cleeve 8 254.78x
Chiswick 8 23.16x
Codicote 8 307.69x
Fisherton Anger 8 77.29x
Goodnestone In Eastry 8 919.54x
Spitalfields London 8 16.83x
St Giles Cripplegate 8 95.35x
Wellingborough 8 26.76x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.55x
Great Hormead 7 625.00x
Hornsey 7 8.76x
Newnham 7 220.13x
Peterborough 7 16.26x
St Marylebone London 7 2.07x
West Drayton 7 321.10x
Whittlesey St Mary St 7 50.07x
Gloucester St Owen 6 441.18x
Harringworth 6 759.49x
Manchester 6 1.78x
Newington 6 2.57x
St Botolph Aldgate 6 69.52x
Tottenham 6 5.96x
Wolverhampton 6 3.66x
Barrow Upon Soar 5 86.36x
Canterbury St Peter 5 205.76x
Northampton St Peter 5 138.50x
Seaton 5 724.64x
Stonehouse 5 70.92x
Thrapston 5 167.22x
Weybridge 5 75.64x
Wollaston 5 152.91x
Woodstone 5 252.53x
Brighton 4 1.86x
Cheetham 4 7.15x
Claylane 4 29.07x
Habergham Eaves 4 5.83x
Hackney London 4 1.13x
Hillingdon 4 19.85x
Lenton 4 19.93x
Mile End Old Town 4 4.01x
Putney 4 13.88x
St George Bloomsbury 4 11.03x
Woolwich 4 5.02x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 5.14x
Bristol St Nicholas 3 134.53x
Bromley London 3 2.16x
Carisbrooke 3 16.68x
Cheriton 3 34.13x
Collyweston 3 319.15x
Deal 3 16.30x
Felmingham 3 352.94x
Fugglestone St Peter 3 135.75x
Greenwich 3 2.98x
Hastings St Mary 3 11.31x
Higham Ferrers 3 92.88x
Moulton 3 61.73x
Oundle 3 45.11x
Richmond 3 6.95x
Salford 3 1.36x
Sedgley 3 3.79x
St Andrew Holborn 3 14.00x
Stoke Newington London 3 6.09x
Walcot 3 5.54x
West Bromwich 3 2.46x
Westbury On Severn East 3 10.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 46
John 26
Charles 24
George 23
Thomas 17
Robert 15
Alfred 14
Henry 10
James 10
Joseph 10
Arthur 8
Frederick 7
Walter 7
Edward 6
Albert 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Amos 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Felix 2
Fredk. 2
Hy. 2
Philip 2
Phillip 2
Ralph 2
Tom 2
Alie 1
Allenton 1
Charlotte 1
Christopher 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
G.F. 1
Jabez 1
Jackson 1
Jacob 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Maurice 1
Moses 1
Naines 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wyman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wyman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 648 people were recorded with the Wyman surname. That placed it at #5,507 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wyman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 675 in 2016. That gives Wyman a modern rank of #7,944.

What does the Wyman surname mean?

Derived from the Anglo-Saxon given name Wigmund, composed of the elements wig "war" and mund "protection."

What does the Wyman map show?

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