NameCensus.

UK surname

Wythe

A surname derived from the Old English "wudu" meaning wood, likely relating to someone who lived near or worked with wood.

In the 1881 census there were 223 people recorded with the Wythe surname, ranking it #11,998 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 273, ranked #15,800, down from #11,998 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingsclere, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, South Norfolk and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wythe is 369 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.4%.

1881 census count

223

Ranked #11,998

Modern count

273

2016, ranked #15,800

Peak year

1911

369 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wythe had 223 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,998 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016, ranked #15,800.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 369 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wythe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wythe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wythe 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 186 #11,024
1861 historical 180 #13,057
1881 historical 223 #11,998
1891 historical 273 #11,918
1901 historical 339 #10,682
1911 historical 369 #9,867
1997 modern 332 #12,645
1998 modern 331 #13,018
1999 modern 332 #13,075
2000 modern 326 #13,188
2001 modern 320 #13,143
2002 modern 330 #13,140
2003 modern 312 #13,467
2004 modern 310 #13,589
2005 modern 306 #13,657
2006 modern 311 #13,577
2007 modern 323 #13,351
2008 modern 310 #13,834
2009 modern 312 #14,040
2010 modern 307 #14,485
2011 modern 293 #14,834
2012 modern 281 #15,198
2013 modern 284 #15,358
2014 modern 282 #15,537
2015 modern 268 #16,007
2016 modern 273 #15,800

Geography

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Where Wythes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingsclere, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Tannington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, South Norfolk, Ipswich, Hillingdon and Basingstoke and Deane. 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 Kingsclere Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Tannington Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 007 Mid Suffolk
2 South Norfolk 014 South Norfolk
3 Ipswich 015 Ipswich
4 Hillingdon 029 Hillingdon
5 Basingstoke and Deane 004 Basingstoke and Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wythe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wythe

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Wythe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wythe 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

Wythe falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wythe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wythe

The surname Wythe originates from England, with its roots deeply embedded in Anglo-Saxon history. The name is primarily associated with the Old English word "wiþig," which translates to "willow." This connection suggests that the surname likely referred to someone who lived by a willow tree or in an area abundant with willows. The origins of the name date back to the early medieval period, roughly around the 12th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname appears in the Domesday Book, an extensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. In this monumental record, variants of the name such as "Witha" and "Witta" can be identified. These early forms suggest a localization primarily in counties like Norfolk and Suffolk, regions known for their wetlands and abundant willow trees.

One prominent historical figure bearing this surname is George Wythe, born in 1726 and died in 1806. Wythe distinguished himself as a legal scholar and a prominent figure in early American history, being one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence and a mentor to Thomas Jefferson. His contributions to the American legal system are well documented, establishing him as a key player in the founding of the United States.

In medieval England, especially during the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the name Wythe reappears in several legal documents and land charters. For instance, a John Wythe is noted as a landowner in Norfolk in 1392. Another noteworthy individual is Richard Wythe, documented in historical charters around 1450, who served as a bailiff in Kent, providing insights into the spread of the surname outside its original regions.

The 16th century continued to see the presence of the Wythe surname in various official records. Anne Wythe, born in 1532, is documented in parish records of Suffolk. Her mention in church records highlights the surname's continued association with specific localities and its embedding within the community structure of the time.

Elizabeth Wythe, born in 1584 and died in 1649, is another significant figure in the history of this surname. She was known for her charitable activities within her community in Norfolk. Historical accounts and church records frequently mention her philanthropic work, underscoring the sustained presence and social contribution of the Wythe family across generations in this region.

The surname Wythe, with its varied spellings and rich historical background, demonstrates a fascinating journey through the tapestry of English and early American history. Its etymology, tied closely to the natural landscape of medieval England, offers a unique glimpse into the lives and identities of those who carried the name through centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wythe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wythe 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. Suffolk leads with 101 Wythes recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.95x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 101 37.95x
Middlesex 66 3.02x
Hampshire 36 8.04x
Dorset 5 3.49x
Buckinghamshire 4 3.03x
Surrey 4 0.38x
Norfolk 2 0.60x
Hertfordshire 1 0.66x
Kent 1 0.13x
Northamptonshire 1 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.34x
Royal Navy 1 3.84x
Sussex 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 22 Wythes recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.23x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 22 23.23x
Kingsclere 17 829.27x
Tannington 17 11333.33x
Framlingham 15 793.65x
Hannington 12 5714.29x
Hampstead London 11 32.32x
Debenham 9 1022.73x
Dennington 9 1525.42x
Hadleigh 8 310.08x
St Anne Soho London 8 64.10x
Wangford 8 1600.00x
Ipswich St Margaret 7 77.52x
Basingstoke 6 116.50x
Chelsea London 6 9.11x
Aldeburgh 5 316.46x
Ipswich St Clement 5 73.96x
Poole St James 5 92.76x
Wycombe 4 40.61x
Bramford 3 300.00x
Islington London 3 1.42x
Kensington London 3 2.47x
Mickfield 3 1578.95x
Paddington London 3 3.73x
Hackney London 2 1.63x
Hammersmith London 2 3.72x
Hornsey 2 7.24x
Laxfield 2 303.03x
Lowestoft 2 15.91x
St Pancras London 2 1.14x
Wickham Market 2 181.82x
Barnes 1 22.22x
Beckenham 1 10.26x
Broadwater 1 11.83x
Brundish 1 357.14x
Bulwell 1 15.63x
Camberwell 1 0.72x
Gillingham 1 294.12x
Hellesdon 1 161.29x
Holdenhurst 1 8.51x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 1 40.49x
Kettering 1 12.03x
Leiston 1 54.64x
Melton 1 95.24x
Peasenhall 1 153.85x
Putney 1 10.04x
Richmond 1 6.70x
Royal Navy 1 4.49x
Snape 1 263.16x
St George Bloomsbury 1 7.97x
St George Hanover 1 3.51x
Wormley 1 181.82x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Wythe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wythe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 223 people were recorded with the Wythe surname. That placed it at #11,998 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wythe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016. That gives Wythe a modern rank of #15,800.

What does the Wythe surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "wudu" meaning wood, likely relating to someone who lived near or worked with wood.

What does the Wythe map show?

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