Wiltshire folk are rightly proud of their roots – and now residents can find out just how Wiltshire their surname truly is.

A comprehensive new study from UK family history website Findmypast uses millions of digitised local census and parish records dating back to the 1500s.

The study reveals which surnames have the deepest historical roots, which are now rarely seen, and offers insights into jobs and movement over time.

Some surnames go back centuries and appear frequently in parish records from as early as the time of Henry VIII.

Smyth, Whatley, Pinchine (or Pinchin) and Marchant are some of the surnames that have strong links to our county.

Wiltshire’s ancient trades are etched into its names. In the 1500s, surnames like Stone, Baker, Carter, and Cooper reflected occupations that built the region — from masonry and agriculture to food and barrel-making.

The surname Stone, for instance, nods to the long history of quarrying and stonecraft around Salisbury Plain.

By the 19th and 20th centuries, names like Jones, Williams, Thomas, and Davis surged into Wiltshire’s top rankings.

These are classic Welsh surnames, and their increasing presence points to migration from Wales and the border counties — likely drawn by opportunities in railway works, agriculture, and the cloth industry.

Jones, for example, moved from 16th in rank in the 1500s to 2nd most popular by 1911.

Some surnames, such as Tucker, Tompson, Stephens (or Stevens) are sadly in decline, however, due to migration and marriage patterns over time, with more localised names eroding as generations move away to find work.

Yet some surnames have increased in popularity over time in Wiltshire. One striking example of this is Webb – which rose in rank from 19th most popular in the 1500s to become its eighth most prevalent by 1911 and further to 6th by 1921.

Jen Baldwin, research specialist at Findmypast, said: “This research gives us more than just name statistics — it’s a map of cultural change through Wiltshire’s rich and varied past.

“Surnames carry the voices of our ancestors, the geography of forgotten villages, and the legacy of occupations, dialects, and kinship.

“Tracing their rise and fall offers a fresh window into Britain’s evolving identity, as well as unlocking clues in piecing together your own family’s story.

“Now, it’s as easy as typing in your surname on Findmypast to start delving into your roots.”

Explore Your Wiltshire Surname

To see how your surname ranks across time — or where it first appears — visit www.findmypast.co.uk/surname

Simply type in your surname and explore billions of historical records in an instant.