NameCensus.

UK surname

Waugh

From the Old English word "wāg," referring to a wall, suggesting an occupational surname for a mason or builder.

In the 1881 census there were 4,082 people recorded with the Waugh surname, ranking it #1,108 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,501, ranked #1,221, down from #1,108 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carlisle, Glenwood South and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waugh is 5,717 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.8%.

1881 census count

4,082

Ranked #1,108

Modern count

5,501

2016, ranked #1,221

Peak year

2010

5,717 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waugh had 4,082 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,108 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,501 in 2016, ranked #1,221.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,062 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Waugh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waugh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waugh 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 2,691 #1,096
1861 historical 2,940 #982
1881 historical 4,082 #1,108
1891 historical 4,505 #1,044
1901 historical 5,062 #1,111
1911 historical 3,539 #1,476
1997 modern 5,349 #1,216
1998 modern 5,586 #1,214
1999 modern 5,597 #1,225
2000 modern 5,580 #1,219
2001 modern 5,413 #1,232
2002 modern 5,544 #1,225
2003 modern 5,340 #1,243
2004 modern 5,306 #1,248
2005 modern 5,305 #1,233
2006 modern 5,290 #1,235
2007 modern 5,333 #1,231
2008 modern 5,406 #1,214
2009 modern 5,547 #1,215
2010 modern 5,717 #1,208
2011 modern 5,610 #1,216
2012 modern 5,459 #1,226
2013 modern 5,529 #1,233
2014 modern 5,543 #1,232
2015 modern 5,504 #1,223
2016 modern 5,501 #1,221

Geography

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Where Waughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carlisle, Glenwood South and Gateshead. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carlisle 001 Carlisle
2 Carlisle 002 Carlisle
3 Carlisle 007 Carlisle
4 Glenwood South Glasgow City
5 Gateshead 002 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waugh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waugh

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Waugh, 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 Waugh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Waugh 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Waugh 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

Waugh is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Waugh

The surname Waugh is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "walh" or "walah," meaning "foreigner" or "stranger." This term was initially used to refer to people of Celtic or Romanized British descent living among the Anglo-Saxons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Waugh can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire, where a person named William le Waleys was mentioned in 1246. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Waleys, Walch, Walgh, and eventually Waugh.

The name Waugh has been associated with several historical figures throughout the centuries. One notable example is Sir William Waugh (1644-1707), a Scottish military officer who served as the Governor of the Presidencies of Madras and Fort St. George in India during the late 17th century.

Another prominent individual was Evelyn Arthur St. John Waugh (1903-1966), an English writer best known for his novels like "Brideshead Revisited" and "A Handful of Dust." He was a prominent figure in the literary world and is considered one of the great satirical novelists of the 20th century.

The Waugh surname also has connections to various place names in England. For instance, the village of Waughtown, located in Lancashire, is believed to have derived its name from the Waugh family, who were once prominent landowners in the area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Waugh include:

1. Ralph Waugh (1635-1733), an English Quaker minister and diarist known for his detailed accounts of life in 17th-century England.

2. Frederick Judd Waugh (1861-1940), an American marine painter celebrated for his seascapes and coastal scenes.

3. Alec Waugh (1898-1981), a British novelist and travel writer who was the elder brother of Evelyn Waugh.

4. Julia Nava Waugh (1888-1973), an American sculptor and art educator known for her work in the American Southwest.

5. Dan Waugh (born 1949), an American historian and expert on the Silk Road and Central Asian studies.

While the surname Waugh may have originated from a term denoting foreigners, it has since become an integral part of English and British history, with many notable individuals bearing this name contributing significantly to various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waugh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waugh 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. Northumberland leads with 698 Waughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.78x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 698 11.78x
Durham 542 4.58x
Lanarkshire 312 2.42x
Cumberland 282 8.23x
Yorkshire 276 0.70x
Lancashire 274 0.58x
Midlothian 184 3.45x
Stirlingshire 183 12.46x
Roxburghshire 167 23.15x
Dumfriesshire 158 17.96x
Middlesex 140 0.35x
Kirkcudbrightshire 75 13.01x
Ayrshire 71 2.38x
West Lothian 65 10.84x
Staffordshire 53 0.39x
Renfrewshire 41 1.33x
Surrey 41 0.21x
Kent 40 0.29x
Peeblesshire 28 14.95x
Sussex 27 0.40x
Argyllshire 24 2.17x
Westmorland 23 2.63x
Perthshire 21 1.18x
Dunbartonshire 20 1.87x
Berkshire 19 0.64x
Essex 19 0.24x
Suffolk 19 0.39x
Isle of Man 17 2.30x
Wigtownshire 17 3.22x
Buteshire 16 6.63x
Cheshire 16 0.18x
Angus 14 0.38x
Berwickshire 14 2.90x
Caithness 12 2.20x
Glamorgan 12 0.17x
Northamptonshire 11 0.29x
Selkirkshire 10 2.78x
Gloucestershire 9 0.12x
Hampshire 9 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 9 0.71x
Channel Islands 8 0.68x
Somerset 8 0.12x
Wiltshire 8 0.23x
Banffshire 7 0.85x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.28x
Dorset 7 0.27x
East Lothian 7 1.33x
Lincolnshire 7 0.11x
Sutherland 7 2.29x
Devon 6 0.07x
Rutland 6 2.05x
Bedfordshire 5 0.24x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.30x
Derbyshire 4 0.06x
Monmouthshire 4 0.14x
Worcestershire 4 0.08x
Royal Navy 3 0.63x
Warwickshire 3 0.03x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.03x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.04x
Fife 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Kinross-shire 1 0.99x
Nairnshire 1 0.82x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Shropshire 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. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 106 Waughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.94x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 106 4.94x
Gateshead 86 9.70x
Slamannan 74 92.02x
Westoe 73 10.87x
Govan 62 1.95x
Barony 55 1.69x
Elswick 50 10.57x
Westgate 46 12.54x
Falkirk 39 11.34x
Bothkennar 38 86.68x
Heworth 37 15.85x
Spotland 37 7.04x
Jedburgh 32 45.27x
Whitburn 32 36.94x
Glasgow 30 1.31x
Tynemouth 30 9.46x
Oldham 29 1.90x
Scarborough 29 8.09x
St Marylebone London 29 1.36x
Bradford 28 2.93x
Cheadle 26 40.28x
Melrose 26 41.69x
Blenkinsopp 25 251.26x
Hawick 25 15.49x
Liverpool 25 0.87x
Canonbie 24 64.22x
Manchester 24 1.13x
Thirlwall 24 298.51x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 23 4.48x
Bewcastle 22 181.52x
Brandon Byshottles 22 14.82x
Bedlington 21 10.62x
Bothwell 21 6.01x
Kirkpatrick Juxta 21 146.04x
Bishopwearmouth 20 1.97x
Salford 20 1.44x
St Cuthbert W O 20 11.97x
Wallsend 20 10.64x
West Derby 20 1.45x
Bellister 19 1016.04x
Longbenton 19 7.57x
Wylam 19 145.48x
Benwell 18 27.79x
Castleton 18 3.81x
Haltwhistle 18 62.61x
Logie 18 28.07x
Maybole 18 19.84x
Ryton 18 43.24x
Hexham 17 18.54x
Sculcoates 17 2.72x
Stanhope 17 13.90x
Kirkdale 16 2.01x
Larbert 16 18.23x
Rothesay 16 13.69x
Sprouston 16 114.29x
St Pancras London 16 0.50x
Stockley 16 106.60x
Wilton In Guisbrough 16 90.65x
Carluke 15 12.83x
Cornhill 15 167.97x
Dalry 15 10.70x
Dearham 15 33.16x
Hartleyburn 15 209.21x
Innerleithen 15 30.18x
Lanark 15 14.48x
Old Monkland 15 2.94x
Ryton Woodside 15 101.63x
Blantyre 14 10.44x
Burtholme 14 318.91x
Farlam 14 64.87x
Ford 14 64.64x
Headingley Cum Burley 14 5.51x
Wilton 14 17.69x
Wolsingham 14 12.97x
Bathgate 13 9.99x
Cambusnethan 13 4.55x
Dacre 13 98.34x
Framwellgate 13 18.52x
Troqueer 13 17.19x
Alnwick 12 11.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 202
Elizabeth 125
Jane 101
Margaret 83
Sarah 72
Ann 60
Hannah 43
Isabella 43
Annie 33
Eliza 23
Ellen 22
Emma 19
Alice 18
Emily 17
Frances 16
Eleanor 15
Ada 13
Catherine 13
Martha 12
Louisa 11
Agnes 9
Anne 9
Barbara 9
Edith 9
Margt. 9
Grace 8
Maria 8
Rebecca 8
Caroline 6
Charlotte 6
Esther 6
Ethel 6
Harriet 6
Fanny 5
Janet 5
Lucy 5
Amelia 4
Elizth. 4
Gertrude 4
Helen 4
Isabel 4
Jemima 4
Kate 4
Ruth 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Agness 3
Anna 3
Catharine 3
Margeret 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 226
William 159
Thomas 103
James 96
Robert 85
George 81
Joseph 73
Henry 38
Edward 30
Charles 26
Richard 25
Andrew 15
Alexander 14
Adam 12
Alfred 12
Frederick 11
Ralph 11
Arthur 10
Isaac 10
Matthew 10
Samuel 10
Wm. 10
Benjamin 9
Peter 9
David 8
Francis 8
Walter 8
Herbert 7
Christopher 6
Edwin 6
Geo. 6
Michael 6
Nicholas 6
Thos. 6
Albert 5
Fred 5
Harry 5
Tom 5
Hugh 4
Mathew 4
Robt. 4
Archibald 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Hy. 3
Joshua 3
Lewis 3
Percy 3
Alice 2
Ben 2

FAQ

Waugh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waugh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,082 people were recorded with the Waugh surname. That placed it at #1,108 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waugh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,501 in 2016. That gives Waugh a modern rank of #1,221.

What does the Waugh surname mean?

From the Old English word "wāg," referring to a wall, suggesting an occupational surname for a mason or builder.

What does the Waugh map show?

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