Recent studies suggest the name Wise dates back to the eighth century. Wise is a middle Anglo-Saxon occupational surname. First historical evidence of the surname dates to the county of Cornwall in 1363.
Wise is currently at number 1654 of the UK's most common surnames. World wide there are approximately 90308 people with this surname. The 1911 census carried out by H.M. Treasury for the UK shows the highest number of Wise's in the county of Cambridgeshire. It is written that an early 18th century Wise could out drink a Tiger. Never too far from controversy a pair of brothers Barry Wise and Edward Wise were sent to jail in 1895 for allegedly stealing a gold ring. 112