NameCensus.

UK surname

Waudby

A locational surname derived from a place in Yorkshire, possibly "Waudby" near Driffield.

In the 1881 census there were 212 people recorded with the Waudby surname, ranking it #12,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 821, ranked #6,763, up from #12,373 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cave, South, Hull Holy Trinity and Beverley St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waudby is 841 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 287.3%.

1881 census count

212

Ranked #12,373

Modern count

821

2016, ranked #6,763

Peak year

2003

841 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waudby had 212 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,373 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 821 in 2016, ranked #6,763.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 215 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Waudby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waudby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waudby 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 118 #15,362
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 212 #12,373
1891 historical 168 #16,937
1901 historical 190 #15,634
1911 historical 215 #14,290
1997 modern 779 #6,679
1998 modern 801 #6,739
1999 modern 814 #6,700
2000 modern 789 #6,850
2001 modern 794 #6,681
2002 modern 838 #6,535
2003 modern 841 #6,390
2004 modern 833 #6,451
2005 modern 820 #6,477
2006 modern 811 #6,548
2007 modern 790 #6,761
2008 modern 793 #6,802
2009 modern 808 #6,831
2010 modern 826 #6,845
2011 modern 820 #6,804
2012 modern 800 #6,827
2013 modern 831 #6,743
2014 modern 823 #6,821
2015 modern 817 #6,815
2016 modern 821 #6,763

Geography

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Where Waudbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cave, South, Hull Holy Trinity, Beverley St Mary, Kirk Ella and Hessle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Cave, South Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Beverley St Mary Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Kirk Ella Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Hessle Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 024 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Kingston upon Hull 030 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Kingston upon Hull 004 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waudby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waudby

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Waudby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Waudby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Waudby is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Waudby 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

Waudby falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waudby

The surname Waudby is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the village of Waudby in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The name is derived from the Old Norse words "valr" meaning "slain warrior" and "by" meaning "farm" or "settlement".

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Waldebi". This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records as "Waldeby" and "Walldeby". These variations in spelling were common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Waudby was Sir William Waudby, a knight who lived in the late 13th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents and is believed to have been a prominent landowner in Yorkshire.

In the 14th century, the name Waudby can be found in the Poll Tax records of 1379, where it is spelled as "Waudeby". This suggests that the name was well-established by that time and was spread across different regions of England.

During the 16th century, the name Waudby appeared in the parish records of Beverley, Yorkshire, where several members of the family were recorded as being involved in the wool trade and other local industries.

Another notable figure with the surname Waudby was John Waudby, born in 1640 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the economic development of the region during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Waudby was associated with the village of Waudby in Yorkshire, where several families with this surname resided and owned land. One of the most prominent members of the family during this time was William Waudby, born in 1712, who served as a magistrate and was actively involved in local politics.

As the centuries progressed, the Waudby family continued to leave their mark in various fields, including law, academia, and the military. Several individuals with this surname have made significant contributions to their respective communities and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waudby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waudby 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. Yorkshire leads with 167 Waudbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 167 8.43x
Lincolnshire 20 6.26x
Durham 8 1.34x
Norfolk 7 2.28x
Renfrewshire 2 1.29x
Herefordshire 1 1.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 28 Waudbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.75x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 28 58.75x
Sculcoates 20 63.65x
South Cave 15 2272.73x
Anlaby 11 2558.14x
Holme On Spalding Moor 11 846.15x
Great Grimsby 10 49.29x
Beverley St Mary 9 311.42x
Hessle In Sculcoates 9 514.29x
Norton In Malton 9 375.00x
Heaton 8 375.59x
Middleton On Wolds 8 1818.18x
Stranton 8 39.94x
Scarborough 6 33.31x
Cottingham 5 117.10x
Haceby 5 12500.00x
York St Saviour 5 264.55x
Grantham 4 95.92x
Upwell 4 279.72x
Leven 3 517.24x
Outwell 3 500.00x
Bridlington 2 44.05x
East Greenock 2 13.67x
Hunslet 2 6.47x
Rothwell 2 50.00x
Ruswarp 2 90.91x
Shipton In Pocklington 2 689.66x
Beverley St Martin 1 30.21x
Boothby Pagnell 1 1111.11x
Ellerker 1 500.00x
Humbleton Flinton 1 370.37x
Kirkburn Battleburn 1 1000.00x
Newington 1 18.32x
North Cave Drewton 1 128.21x
Ross 1 30.67x
Sherburn 1 61.35x
Swanland 1 333.33x
York St Denis In 1 114.94x
York St Michael Le 1 156.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Mary 12
Annie 8
Jane 6
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Caroline 4
Hannah 4
Sarah 4
Charlotte 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Alesia 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
Clarissa 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Harriot 1
Helen 1
J.E. 1
K. 1
Kate 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Mahala 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 14
George 9
Henry 5
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
James 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Levi 2
Samuel 2
A. 1
Albt.E. 1
Ben 1
Chas. 1
E. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Gerrard 1
H. 1
J. 1
Mark 1
Marmaduke 1
Richard 1
Sampson 1
Stamp 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Waudby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waudby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 212 people were recorded with the Waudby surname. That placed it at #12,373 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waudby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 821 in 2016. That gives Waudby a modern rank of #6,763.

What does the Waudby surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Yorkshire, possibly "Waudby" near Driffield.

What does the Waudby map show?

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