Wylie Surname

16,043rd
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 34,756 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Falkland Islands

Wylie Surname Definition:

A diphthongized form of Willie, a diminutive of William, which see. compare Wylly Jaksone in Glasgow, 1454 (LCD., p. 178). Donald Wyly, tenant of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, 1376 (RHM., I, p. lvi). John Wili held a land in Montrose, 1431, and Robert Wylye was vicar of Kilcoldrum, 1434 (REB.

Read More About This Surname

Wylie Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States17,0691:21,2352,684
England3,9331:14,1672,091
Canada3,1801:11,5871,731
Australia3,1531:8,5621,273
Scotland2,9561:1,811333
Northern Ireland1,7161:1,075212
New Zealand1,1511:3,934621
South Africa4831:112,16913,482
Liberia2191:20,1302,032
Ireland2141:22,0042,203
Wales981:31,5773,178
Thailand621:1,139,328167,850
Trinidad and Tobago521:26,2302,834
Spain461:1,016,34937,676
Indonesia461:2,874,982163,265
Chile421:419,44011,239
France361:1,845,076161,051
India321:23,970,793327,222
Singapore261:211,83510,313
Zimbabwe221:701,73850,656
Brazil131:16,467,256295,032
Hong Kong131:564,2683,428
Malaysia121:2,457,85295,442
Pakistan121:14,886,99061,272
Netherlands121:1,407,26575,423
Venezuela111:2,745,82529,869
Gibraltar101:3,395741
Philippines101:10,123,822213,993
Bermuda101:6,5281,005
Belize91:39,4972,328
Germany81:10,063,182283,807
Jersey71:14,1722,872
United Arab Emirates71:1,308,89651,006
China71:195,331,65210,124
Sweden61:1,641,126116,183
Norway61:857,04855,549
Mexico61:20,687,70153,861
Falkland Islands61:522125
Switzerland51:1,642,58387,307
DR Congo41:18,469,892182,906
South Korea41:12,810,0642,073
Namibia31:803,13415,170
Afghanistan31:10,717,72835,605
United States Virgin Islands31:36,7924,502
Isle of Man31:28,6073,614
Peru21:15,892,06251,966
Slovakia21:2,668,225118,680
Jamaica21:1,434,97411,081
Papua New Guinea21:4,076,858165,791
Vietnam11:92,646,0548,382
Cayman Islands11:63,8932,384
Cyprus11:884,87613,055
Congo11:4,989,09634,171
Costa Rica11:4,780,06913,345
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Finland11:5,496,70284,025
Ghana11:27,020,69223,742
Greece11:11,079,790145,225
Taiwan11:23,444,74693,622
Guernsey11:64,4392,137
Hungary11:9,816,27773,288
Italy11:61,156,688199,583
Saudi Arabia11:30,855,81763,028
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11:112,6591,704
Russia11:144,123,056881,408
Qatar11:2,357,99976,403
Portugal11:10,418,24125,048
Japan11:127,844,29373,547
Panama11:3,912,25817,195
Kuwait11:3,800,69427,187
North Macedonia11:2,101,47231,546
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland1,1961:3,704656
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Scotland2,6821:1,396255
England8261:29,5103,982
Wales31:522,80514,314
Jersey21:25,9413,069
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States2,9141:17,2342,189

Wylie (4,022) may also be a first name.

Wylie Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

A diphthongized form of Willie, a diminutive of William, which see. compare Wylly Jaksone in Glasgow, 1454 (LCD., p. 178). Donald Wyly, tenant of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, 1376 (RHM., I, p. lvi). John Wili held a land in Montrose, 1431, and Robert Wylye was vicar of Kilcoldrum, 1434 (REB., II, 35; I, 60). William Wyly, a witness in Prestwick, Ayrshire, 1446 (Prestwick, p. 114), Robert Wyly, charter witness in Glasgow, 1454 (LCD., p. 178), and Richard Wyly, vicar of Dundee, 1458 (REB., I, 182). In 1509 there is an entry of 'heritabill stat and sessing to Wilze Wille, as sone and air to John Willi' (Prestwick, p. 39). John Wily and Edward Wily in Cragy (Craigie) in Carrick, 1529 (RMS., III, 849). John Weyle was tenant of Castalstaris (Carstairs), 1530 (Rental), David Wyle, notary in Glasgow, 1550 (Protocols, I) and Michael Wylie, collier in Dysart, 1563 (Dysart, p. 30). A dittay against James Vylze and Jonnet Vylze is recorded in 1575 (Prestwich;, p. 74). Thomas Wyllie retoured heir of John Wyllie in Old Aberdene, his 'father brother,' 1653 (Retours, Aberdeen, 316). David Weillie in Pendyke recorded in 1659 (Kilbarchan), and Thomas Wylie was minister of the gospel at Kirkcudbriam, 1680 (Retours, Kirkcudbright, 338). Vylie 1602, Vyly 1435, Wile 1477.

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

This is a numerous and predominantly Ulster surname and one which, despite a fall in the country's population in the last hundred years has increased in numbers rather than decreased during that time.

In 1865 fifty-five births were registered for Wylie, Wiley and Wyley, 54 of which were in Ulster (mainly Counties Antrim, Armagh and Tyrone); in 1890 there were 51 births registered for Wylie, Wiley, Wilie and Wily, 49 in Ulster, chiefly in Co. Antrim. The name is English in origin (Bardsley says it is a toponymic, being taken from the village of Wyly in Wiltshire). There was a miller called Richard Wylly of Castletowncooley, north Louth, in 1449, but I have met no evidence to indicate that his descendants survive and are now called Wylie. In Pynnar's Survey of 1618-19 John Wylie is recorded as a lessee on the Fort Cunningham estate; and the families now widespread in the north of Ireland appear to have been introduced at the time of the Plantation of Ulster. Little is heard of them in the seventeenth century, though there are several of the name in the Hearth Money Rolls of Counties Antrim, Tyrone and Donegal, but subsequently the testamentary records of the northern dioceses prove a number of them to have been people of substance. It should be mentioned that O'Wyle occurs twice in the Derry hearth money rolls (1663). If this is to be equated with Wylie the O is probably a clerical error.

The name is to be found also to-day in east Clare, where the form used for it in Irish is Ó hUallaigh (see Howley, supra), but whether there is a traditional basis for this or it is merely guesswork I have been unable to ascertain.

Supplement to Irish Families (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(English) 1 diphthongized forms of Wiilie, Willey, q.v.

Here is Wyll Wyly the myl pecker.— Cocke Lorelles Bote: Percy Soc., vol. ii.

2 Wily [from Middle English wile, a wile; Old English wíg(o)l, divination] The wyly fox, the wedowis inemye.— The Kingis Quair, l. 1089.

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

An English toponymic which came to Ireland at the time of the Plantation of Ulster at the beginning of the seventeenth century and is now numerous, especially in Co. Antrim. SIF 155

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(English) A variant of Wiley, q.v.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

A parish near Hindon, co. Wilts, now more commonly written Wily.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

A form of Willie or William; or wily, artful, sly.

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

Wylie: is no crafty rogue, but deduces from Vesli.

Family Names And Their Story (1913) by Sabine Baring-Gould

Wylie Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Wylie Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Wylie occurs in The United States more than any other country/territory. It can also be found in the variant forms:. Click here for further possible spellings of this name.

How Common Is The Last Name Wylie? popularity and diffusion

Wylie is the 16,043rd most frequently held surname globally, borne by around 1 in 209,677 people. The surname Wylie is predominantly found in The Americas, where 59 percent of Wylie live; 58 percent live in North America and 58 percent live in Anglo-North America. Wylie is also the 110,051st most widespread first name on earth. It is borne by 4,022 people.

The surname Wylie is most frequent in The United States, where it is carried by 17,069 people, or 1 in 21,235. In The United States it is most frequent in: Texas, where 14 percent reside, California, where 9 percent reside and Pennsylvania, where 5 percent reside. Not including The United States this last name exists in 70 countries. It is also common in England, where 11 percent reside and Canada, where 9 percent reside.

Wylie Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The prevalency of Wylie has changed over time. In The United States the share of the population with the last name grew 586 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it grew 476 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it grew 110 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Ireland it fell 82 percent between 1901 and 2014 and in Wales it grew 3,267 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Wylie Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those bearing the Wylie surname is chiefly Presbyterian (49%) in Ireland.

In The United States those bearing the Wylie last name are 10.8% more likely to be registered Republicans than The US average, with 57.57% being registered with the political party.

The amount Wylie earn in different countries varies markedly. In Norway they earn 35.45% more than the national average, earning 468,775 kr per year; in South Africa they earn 38.36% more than the national average, earning R 328,800 per year; in United States they earn 0.87% more than the national average, earning $43,523 USD per year and in Canada they earn 7.98% more than the national average, earning $53,646 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Wyllie918,210/
Whylie91527/
Weylie9195/
Wyliie913/
Wylihe912/
Wyliey911/
Wylyie911/
Waylie911/
Wyle89448/
Wyli896/
Whyllie8315/
Whyliee833/
D'Wylie832/
Weyllie830/
Wyley80503/
Wilie80422/
Whyle80344/
Welie80164/
Wayle8027/
Weyle807/
Woyle805/
Bylie805/
Wylee804/
Wylei804/
Wayli804/
Wylye803/
Wyhle802/
Weyli802/
Wylia801/
Wyliy801/
Wylea801/
Wylae800/
Whyli800/
Willie7349,267/
Waylee731,287/
Whyley73466/
Baylie73352/
Beylie73169/
Wellie73169/
Waylea7383/
Welihe7365/
Wayleh7343/
Wayley7327/
Wehlie7326/
Wiliie7310/
Weelie735/
Weliei735/
Waayle734/
Whelie734/
Woyler733/
Wyttle733/
Waylid733/
Weljie733/
Weilie733/
Weylis732/
Wiliey732/
Wilihe732/
Wylead731/
Wyleas731/
Waylij731/
Whayle731/
Wyhler731/
Wijlie731/
Whylle731/
Wouyle731/
Wyleiz731/
Wyttli731/
Boylie731/
Weysle731/
Wiljie731/
Weyley730/
Wilhie730/
Wylepp730/
Wetlie730/
Wyleys730/
Wiglie730/
Wielie730/
Wele6713,868/
Weli6710,281/
Wile674,501/
Wili672,807/
Wyly67906/
Byle67647/
Vyle6795/
Byli6758/
Williey6745/
Whyleah6728/
Wäli6721/
Wayleah6718/
Willlie6716/
Wéle6715/
Weillie678/
Whillie678/
Williee678/
Waillie677/
Welehie676/
Wuillie675/
Whayley674/
Wheelie674/
Wilhiet673/
Woillie673/
Willhie672/
Voylies672/
Williea672/
Wyslich672/
Whyller672/
Vyli671/
Weilieh671/
Weilier671/
Whytley671/
Whayler671/
Whellie671/
Weelihe671/
Waylait671/
Welajie671/
Wehliee671/
Wellihe671/
Wlej671/
Welaije671/
Wyla671/
Weyleer671/
Wjle671/
Wjli671/
Wuyllis671/
Wayliss670/
Whytlle670/
Whytlip670/
Wheyley670/
Whilier670/
Welhier670/
Wettlie670/
Wihllie670/

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Wylie
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis