NameCensus.

UK surname

Wastell

A surname derived from an old Anglo-Norman French word for "waste" or "uncultivated land".

In the 1881 census there were 207 people recorded with the Wastell surname, ranking it #12,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 394, ranked #12,012, up from #12,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitby, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, South Tyneside and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wastell is 474 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.3%.

1881 census count

207

Ranked #12,555

Modern count

394

2016, ranked #12,012

Peak year

1999

474 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wastell had 207 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016, ranked #12,012.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 437 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Wastell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wastell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wastell 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 142 #15,982
1881 historical 207 #12,555
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 407 #9,374
1911 historical 437 #8,698
1997 modern 437 #10,299
1998 modern 468 #10,098
1999 modern 474 #10,055
2000 modern 447 #10,497
2001 modern 446 #10,312
2002 modern 440 #10,638
2003 modern 425 #10,765
2004 modern 409 #11,095
2005 modern 394 #11,308
2006 modern 401 #11,237
2007 modern 397 #11,433
2008 modern 396 #11,581
2009 modern 412 #11,461
2010 modern 411 #11,723
2011 modern 399 #11,882
2012 modern 389 #11,963
2013 modern 400 #11,915
2014 modern 396 #12,100
2015 modern 390 #12,139
2016 modern 394 #12,012

Geography

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Where Wastells are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, South Tyneside and Scarborough. 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 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 018 Stockton-on-Tees
2 South Tyneside 002 South Tyneside
3 South Tyneside 004 South Tyneside
4 Stockton-on-Tees 015 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Scarborough 001 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wastell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wastell

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Wastell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wastell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Wastell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wastell 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

Wastell falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wastell

The surname WASTELL is of English origin and dates back to the late 11th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "west" and "hyll," meaning "west hill" or "western hill." This suggests that the name may have been derived from a geographic location or a place name referring to a hill or elevated area in the western part of a region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Westuill" and "Westulle." This ancient manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England at the time.

During the Middle Ages, the surname WASTELL was primarily concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Several historical records from this period mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Westhill, Westwill, and Westwalle.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Wastell (c. 1310-1379) was recorded as a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Yorkshire. Another early bearer of the name was Sir Hugh Wastell (c. 1420-1488), a knight who served as a military commander during the Wars of the Roses.

The name WASTELL has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout England. For example, Westhill in Hertfordshire and Westwell in Kent may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in different regions.

In the 16th century, Sir William Wastell (c. 1510-1572) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace for King Henry VIII. Another notable figure was John Wastell (c. 1580-1644), an English Jesuit and scholar who authored several religious works.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the WASTELL surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with families bearing the name residing in counties such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, and Gloucestershire. One notable individual from this period was Richard Wastell (1689-1753), a prominent merchant and philanthropist in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wastell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wastell 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. Middlesex leads with 83 Wastells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.11x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 83 4.11x
Surrey 33 3.35x
Yorkshire 29 1.45x
Warwickshire 13 2.55x
Durham 12 2.00x
Glamorgan 11 3.13x
Essex 9 2.26x
Northumberland 4 1.33x
Sussex 4 1.17x
Berkshire 3 1.98x
Derbyshire 2 0.63x
Kent 2 0.29x
Westmorland 2 4.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 38 Wastells recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.32x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 38 43.32x
Whitby 15 222.55x
Corley 13 6190.48x
Shoreditch London 11 12.57x
St John Near Swansea 10 229.89x
Chigwell 9 239.36x
Lambeth 9 5.11x
Camberwell 7 5.43x
Mile End Old Town 7 21.96x
Newington 7 9.38x
Stockton On Tees 7 24.17x
Tottenham 7 21.77x
Yarm 7 679.61x
Hackney London 6 5.30x
Penge 6 46.51x
Cockerton 4 207.25x
Thornaby 4 53.48x
Cookham 3 63.42x
Hastings Holy Trinity 3 119.52x
Poplar London 3 7.87x
Southwark Christchurch 3 31.71x
St Pancras London 3 1.85x
Appleby St Lawrence 2 198.02x
Byker 2 13.47x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.76x
Derby St Werburgh 2 10.96x
Ealing 2 11.08x
Elswick 2 8.34x
Islington London 2 1.02x
Kirkleatham 2 74.07x
St Luke London 2 6.17x
Barnes 1 24.04x
Brighton 1 1.46x
Paddington London 1 1.35x
Ruswarp 1 44.84x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 43.10x
Stranton 1 4.95x
Swansea Town 1 3.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 11
Mary 9
Jane 7
Eliza 6
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Agatha 2
Anne 2
Eliz. 2
Emely 2
Georgina 2
Harriett 2
Maria 2
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lettice 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Marg. 1
Margaretta 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Prudance 1
Rose 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 12
Thomas 7
Henry 6
George 5
Alfred 3
Charles 3
James 3
Arthur 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Josiah 2
Lewis 2
Louis 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrk.Samuel 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Robt.L. 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Wastell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wastell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 207 people were recorded with the Wastell surname. That placed it at #12,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wastell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016. That gives Wastell a modern rank of #12,012.

What does the Wastell surname mean?

A surname derived from an old Anglo-Norman French word for "waste" or "uncultivated land".

What does the Wastell map show?

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