NameCensus.

UK surname

Wavell

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Wavell surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, Shorwell, Brixton, Kingston and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southend-on-Sea, Aboyne and South Deeside and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wavell is 138 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.3%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

1881

138 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 1901

Key insights

  • Wavell had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016, ranked #31,358.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 138 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Wavell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wavell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wavell 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 127 #14,547
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 100 #24,045
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 86 #24,243
1997 modern 85 #28,988
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 99 #27,906
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 93 #28,382
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 102 #27,637
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 101 #30,855
2015 modern 98 #31,342
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

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Where Wavells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, Shorwell, Brixton, Kingston, London parishes, Godshill and Newport. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southend-on-Sea, Aboyne and South Deeside, Isle of Wight and Halton. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 Shorwell, Brixton, Kingston Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Godshill Hampshire
5 Newport Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southend-on-Sea 014 Southend-on-Sea
2 Aboyne and South Deeside Aberdeenshire
3 Isle of Wight 004 Isle of Wight
4 Isle of Wight 013 Isle of Wight
5 Halton 002 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wavell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wavell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wavell, 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 Wavell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wavell 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Wavell is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wavell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wavell falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Wavell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wavell 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. Hampshire leads with 76 Wavells recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.04x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 76 26.04x
Middlesex 19 1.33x
Surrey 14 2.02x
Channel Islands 8 18.96x
Staffordshire 8 1.66x
Yorkshire 7 0.50x
Essex 4 1.42x
Hertfordshire 2 2.04x
Huntingdonshire 2 7.07x
Kent 2 0.41x
Sussex 2 0.83x
Cheshire 1 0.32x
Gloucestershire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shorwell in Hampshire leads with 16 Wavells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5333.33x.

Place Total Index
Shorwell 16 5333.33x
Portsea 15 26.22x
Newport 12 759.49x
Harmondsworth 8 909.09x
Kingswinford 8 45.85x
Whippingham 8 361.99x
Camberwell 7 7.69x
St Helier 7 50.95x
Ryde 5 79.74x
Halifax 4 19.31x
Newington 4 7.60x
Alverstoke 3 28.38x
Roydon 3 731.71x
St Marylebone London 3 3.95x
St Pancras London 3 2.62x
Brighton 2 4.13x
Carisbrooke 2 49.38x
Fareham 2 56.98x
Kimbolton 2 333.33x
Kingston On Thames 2 12.00x
Northwood 2 48.08x
Paddington London 2 3.82x
Portsmouth 2 29.76x
Rickmansworth 2 74.07x
Skircoat 2 35.91x
St Clement Danes 2 86.58x
St Nicholas 2 1176.47x
Tonbridge 2 11.41x
Whitwell 2 571.43x
Aldershot 1 10.22x
Brading 1 25.77x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 10.74x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 46.08x
Lower Bebington 1 53.48x
Mile End Old Town 1 4.45x
Millbrook 1 13.61x
Penge 1 10.99x
South Stoneham 1 15.80x
St Saviour 1 42.92x
Tong 1 36.63x
Yarmouth 1 256.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 8
William 6
Charles 4
Henry 4
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Sydney 3
Thomas 3
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
James 2
John 2
Leonard 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Artha 1
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
Frederick 1
J.W. 1
Jonathan 1
Josh. 1
Mark 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Wm. 1
Woodman 1

FAQ

Wavell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wavell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Wavell surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wavell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Wavell a modern rank of #31,358.

What does the Wavell map show?

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