NameCensus.

UK surname

Washbourne

An English surname referring to someone who lived near or by a stream or flowing water.

In the 1881 census there were 253 people recorded with the Washbourne surname, ranking it #10,980 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 379, ranked #12,371, down from #10,980 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and Haselor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Cornwall and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Washbourne is 419 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.8%.

1881 census count

253

Ranked #10,980

Modern count

379

2016, ranked #12,371

Peak year

1998

419 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Washbourne had 253 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,980 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 379 in 2016, ranked #12,371.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 383 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Washbourne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Washbourne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Washbourne 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 127 #17,469
1881 historical 253 #10,980
1891 historical 301 #11,092
1901 historical 353 #10,364
1911 historical 383 #9,597
1997 modern 392 #11,178
1998 modern 419 #10,992
1999 modern 407 #11,305
2000 modern 404 #11,306
2001 modern 390 #11,420
2002 modern 404 #11,353
2003 modern 387 #11,523
2004 modern 388 #11,539
2005 modern 367 #11,956
2006 modern 369 #11,965
2007 modern 360 #12,335
2008 modern 366 #12,285
2009 modern 374 #12,343
2010 modern 380 #12,462
2011 modern 383 #12,244
2012 modern 365 #12,547
2013 modern 384 #12,295
2014 modern 384 #12,362
2015 modern 386 #12,237
2016 modern 379 #12,371

Geography

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Where Washbournes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, Haselor 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 Bath and North East Somerset, Cornwall, South Gloucestershire, Carmarthenshire and Bridgend. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Haselor Warwickshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 019 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Cornwall 038 Cornwall
3 South Gloucestershire 003 South Gloucestershire
4 Carmarthenshire 006 Carmarthenshire
5 Bridgend 018 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Washbourne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Washbourne

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Washbourne, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Washbourne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Washbourne household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Washbourne is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Washbourne is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Washbourne 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 Washbourne 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 Washbourne, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Washbourne

The surname Washbourne is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words 'waes' meaning 'marsh' and 'burna' meaning 'stream'. It is believed to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire, England, during the 11th century. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream in a marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Waceburne'. This entry indicates that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name was often spelled 'Washborne' or 'Washbourne', reflecting the evolution of the English language over time. Some variations included 'Wasshebourn' and 'Wassheburn'.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Washbourne (c. 1380 - 1437), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Henry V.

Another significant figure was Richard Washbourne (1564 - 1627), a publisher and bookseller who was known for printing Catholic works during the English Reformation.

In the 17th century, the Washbourne family was well-established in the county of Worcestershire, where they owned several estates and manors, such as the Washbourne Court in Stanford-on-Teme.

John Washbourne (1738 - 1815), a member of this Worcestershire branch, was a renowned clockmaker whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the English gentry.

During the 19th century, the name spread to other parts of the British Isles, as well as to North America and Australia, as members of the Washbourne family emigrated to these regions.

One notable descendant was Thomas Washbourne (1816 - 1888), a British barrister and historian who authored several works on the history of Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Washbourne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Washbourne 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. Gloucestershire leads with 68 Washbournes recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.05x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 68 14.05x
Warwickshire 52 8.35x
Middlesex 41 1.66x
Surrey 11 0.91x
Lancashire 9 0.31x
Staffordshire 9 1.08x
Wiltshire 9 4.12x
Durham 8 1.09x
Worcestershire 8 2.48x
Leicestershire 7 2.56x
Sussex 7 1.68x
Somerset 6 1.51x
Northumberland 5 1.36x
Buckinghamshire 3 2.01x
Berkshire 2 1.08x
Devon 2 0.39x
Hampshire 2 0.40x
Monmouthshire 2 1.12x
Kent 1 0.12x
Oxfordshire 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 18 Washbournes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.50x.

Place Total Index
Aston 18 10.50x
Birmingham 12 5.79x
Haselor 11 3793.10x
Woolstone 11 22000.00x
Islington London 10 4.18x
Oxenton 9 8181.82x
Stockton On Tees 8 22.61x
Warrington 8 23.04x
Gloucester St Mary Crypt 7 945.95x
Kings Norton 7 24.22x
Chilvers Coton 6 234.38x
Desford 6 789.47x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 67.72x
Kensington London 6 4.37x
Rye 6 151.90x
St Pancras London 6 3.02x
Stroud 6 63.69x
Yate 6 566.04x
Bedminster 5 13.39x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 22.80x
Sandhurst 5 1282.05x
St George Hanover 5 15.52x
Streatham 5 27.31x
Walsall Foreign 5 11.62x
Wroughton 5 264.55x
Hanwell 4 91.32x
Lambeth 4 1.86x
Bromley London 3 5.52x
Chelsea London 3 4.03x
Cheltenham 3 8.03x
Chippenham 3 65.50x
Churchdown 3 312.50x
Gloucester St Michael 3 270.27x
Tamworth 3 67.42x
Temple Grafton 3 857.14x
Bletchley 2 465.12x
Caldicot 2 169.49x
Kingstanley 2 111.73x
Up Hatherly 2 2500.00x
Ash Normandy 1 61.35x
Christ Church Newgate 1 86.96x
Coleshill 1 384.62x
Devonport 1 16.95x
Edgbaston 1 5.18x
Farnborough 1 18.83x
Grays Inn Staple Inn 1 312.50x
Great Marlow 1 24.81x
Hackney London 1 0.72x
Handsworth 1 4.87x
Hastings St Mary 1 9.65x
Holdenhurst 1 7.54x
Hungerford 1 39.84x
Littleworth 1 212.77x
Melton Mowbray 1 20.33x
Newnham 1 80.65x
Oldbury 1 6.31x
Oxford St Giles 1 13.76x
Preshute 1 74.63x
Southwark Christchurch 1 8.65x
Standish 1 238.10x
Stapleton 1 10.89x
Studley 1 37.59x
Tetbury 1 36.50x
Tormoham 1 4.60x
Walmer 1 27.32x
Westminster St 1 10.99x
Weston Super Mare 1 9.97x
Withington 1 10.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Mary 10
Sarah 9
Ellen 7
Eliza 6
Jane 6
Alice 5
Ann 4
Annie 4
Edith 4
Emma 4
Lucy 4
Gertrude 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Rachel 2
Rosanna 2
Amy 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Florey 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Lusy 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Marian 1
Marianna 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Nelley 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Washbourne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Washbourne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 253 people were recorded with the Washbourne surname. That placed it at #10,980 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Washbourne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 379 in 2016. That gives Washbourne a modern rank of #12,371.

What does the Washbourne surname mean?

An English surname referring to someone who lived near or by a stream or flowing water.

What does the Washbourne map show?

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