NameCensus.

UK surname

Watling

An English surname originating from the place name Watling Street, an ancient road in Britain.

In the 1881 census there were 1,552 people recorded with the Watling surname, ranking it #2,716 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,102, ranked #3,075, down from #2,716 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Wakefield and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Watling is 2,293 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.4%.

1881 census count

1,552

Ranked #2,716

Modern count

2,102

2016, ranked #3,075

Peak year

1999

2,293 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Watling had 1,552 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,716 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,102 in 2016, ranked #3,075.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,197 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Watling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Watling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Watling 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 776 #3,443
1861 historical 566 #4,646
1881 historical 1,552 #2,716
1891 historical 1,256 #3,436
1901 historical 1,949 #2,711
1911 historical 2,197 #2,295
1997 modern 2,184 #2,836
1998 modern 2,267 #2,845
1999 modern 2,293 #2,836
2000 modern 2,212 #2,911
2001 modern 2,188 #2,882
2002 modern 2,204 #2,914
2003 modern 2,108 #2,968
2004 modern 2,090 #2,999
2005 modern 2,077 #2,972
2006 modern 2,055 #3,012
2007 modern 2,045 #3,063
2008 modern 2,069 #3,047
2009 modern 2,134 #3,036
2010 modern 2,177 #3,051
2011 modern 2,158 #3,033
2012 modern 2,109 #3,034
2013 modern 2,173 #3,000
2014 modern 2,155 #3,050
2015 modern 2,121 #3,066
2016 modern 2,102 #3,075

Geography

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Where Watlings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth 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 South Norfolk, Wakefield, Breckland, North Norfolk and Suffolk Coastal. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 001 South Norfolk
2 Wakefield 040 Wakefield
3 Breckland 013 Breckland
4 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk
5 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Watling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Watling

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Watling 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

Watling is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Watling falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Watling 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 Watling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Watling

The surname Watling is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "wæter" meaning water and "ling" meaning a pool or stream. This indicates that the name likely originated from someone who lived near a body of water or a waterway.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Watling dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Watlinge." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various historical records with different spellings such as "Wattelyng," "Watelyng," and "Wattelynge." These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling at the time.

One notable individual with the surname Watling was Sir Robert Watling (1558-1631), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1609. He was a prominent figure in the City of London and played a role in the formation of the East India Company.

Another notable bearer of the surname was John Watling (1692-1773), a British buccaneer and privateer who was active in the Caribbean during the early 18th century. He is known for establishing settlements in the Bahamas and is considered a key figure in the history of the islands.

In the 19th century, the name Watling was associated with several places in England, such as Watling Street, an ancient trackway that ran from London to Wales, and Watling Valley, a small village in Northamptonshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in the United States dates back to the 17th century, when Robert Watling (1631-1705) emigrated from England to Virginia in 1638. He became a prominent landowner and played a significant role in the early development of the colony.

Another notable individual with the surname Watling was Henry Watling (1827-1891), a British artist and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life in England. His paintings and illustrations capture the beauty of the English countryside and are highly regarded.

Throughout history, the surname Watling has been found in various regions of England, particularly in areas with close proximity to water sources, such as rivers, lakes, or streams. This reflects the name's original meaning and association with water-related locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Watling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Watling 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. Norfolk leads with 334 Watlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.36x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 334 14.36x
Middlesex 295 1.95x
Suffolk 253 13.73x
Surrey 143 1.94x
Essex 83 2.78x
Yorkshire 77 0.51x
Kent 68 1.32x
Hampshire 31 1.00x
Durham 29 0.64x
Lancashire 25 0.14x
Cornwall 22 1.28x
Cambridgeshire 21 2.19x
Sussex 19 0.74x
Somerset 18 0.74x
Lincolnshire 16 0.66x
Midlothian 13 0.64x
Dorset 12 1.21x
Bedfordshire 10 1.28x
Berkshire 10 0.88x
Gloucestershire 10 0.34x
Shropshire 10 0.77x
Northamptonshire 9 0.63x
Staffordshire 7 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.29x
Lanarkshire 5 0.10x
Monmouthshire 5 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.44x
Cheshire 4 0.12x
Devon 4 0.13x
Herefordshire 3 0.48x
Wiltshire 2 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 45 Watlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.70x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 45 3.70x
Islington London 38 2.59x
Lambeth 38 2.88x
Woodbridge 31 131.58x
Heigham 30 24.03x
Dunwich 28 2170.54x
Romford 22 46.60x
Kensington London 20 2.38x
Ipswich St Margaret 19 30.39x
Norwich St James 19 104.11x
Shoreditch London 19 2.90x
Clerkenwell London 18 5.04x
Tittleshall 18 676.69x
Deptford St Paul 17 4.27x
Barnsley 16 10.35x
Battersea 16 2.87x
Great Yarmouth 16 8.30x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 16 22.91x
Saxmundham 16 233.92x
St Marylebone London 16 1.98x
Newington 15 2.68x
Walthamstow 15 13.95x
St George Hanover 14 7.09x
Felmingham 13 634.15x
Yoxford 13 236.79x
Alverstoke 12 10.69x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.83x
East Dereham 12 40.83x
Norwich St Augustine 12 127.93x
Shipdham 12 151.90x
Sparham 12 750.00x
Lewisham 11 4.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 3.61x
Westminster St John 11 5.97x
Attleborough 10 85.11x
Chelsea London 10 2.19x
Cranfield 10 132.80x
East Ham 10 18.04x
Greenwich 10 4.15x
Kirkdale 10 3.31x
Mile End Old Town 10 4.19x
North Leith 10 10.66x
Bermondsey 9 2.00x
Boston 9 12.26x
Darlington 9 5.18x
Hampstead London 9 3.82x
Lyng 9 343.51x
Scarning 9 260.87x
Westwick 9 947.37x
Drayton In Hales 8 29.68x
Framlingham 8 61.16x
Framsden 8 195.60x
Puddletown 8 131.36x
Redgrave 8 276.82x
Redruth 8 16.51x
Walsham Le Willows 8 130.08x
Acton 7 7.89x
Antony 7 42.32x
Brighton 7 1.36x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 7 20.24x
Claydon 7 255.47x
Gillingham 7 6.58x
Gissing 7 296.61x
Hackney London 7 0.83x
Moulton St Michael 7 376.34x
Oare 7 266.16x
Phillack 7 31.66x
Plumstead 7 4.07x
Tunstead 7 321.10x
Virley 7 1555.56x
Bexley 6 13.15x
Gorton 6 3.56x
Kingston On Thames 6 3.39x
Liverpool 6 0.55x
Norwich St Michael At 6 44.44x
Palgrave 6 155.04x
Rotherhithe 6 3.21x
Sculcoates 6 2.52x
St George In East 6 5.83x
Terrington St Clement 6 57.09x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 102
John 61
George 59
James 45
Charles 44
Henry 41
Thomas 31
Robert 30
Arthur 23
Edward 20
Walter 17
Albert 16
Frederick 16
Harry 15
Richard 13
Ernest 12
Alfred 11
Herbert 9
Joseph 7
Wm. 6
Benjamin 5
Frank 5
Horace 5
Stephen 5
Christopher 4
David 4
Edwin 4
Ephraim 4
Francis 4
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Nathaniel 3
Percy 3
Samuel 3
Willm. 3
Eastgate 2
Fred. 2
Harley 2
Isaac 2
Isaiah 2
Ishmael 2
Jonathan 2
Leonard 2
Mathew 2
Robt. 2
Simon 2
Thos. 2

FAQ

Watling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Watling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,552 people were recorded with the Watling surname. That placed it at #2,716 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Watling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,102 in 2016. That gives Watling a modern rank of #3,075.

What does the Watling surname mean?

An English surname originating from the place name Watling Street, an ancient road in Britain.

What does the Watling map show?

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