NameCensus.

UK surname

Wayland

From an English place name, likely referring to a land by a road or path through a field.

In the 1881 census there were 250 people recorded with the Wayland surname, ranking it #11,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 412, ranked #11,627, down from #11,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon, Tendring and Reigate and Banstead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wayland is 426 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.8%.

1881 census count

250

Ranked #11,070

Modern count

412

2016, ranked #11,627

Peak year

2013

426 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wayland had 250 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016, ranked #11,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 292 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wayland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wayland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wayland 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 194 #10,662
1861 historical 183 #12,903
1881 historical 250 #11,070
1891 historical 263 #12,261
1901 historical 281 #12,167
1911 historical 292 #11,674
1997 modern 394 #11,129
1998 modern 408 #11,187
1999 modern 414 #11,156
2000 modern 407 #11,252
2001 modern 393 #11,366
2002 modern 403 #11,382
2003 modern 397 #11,316
2004 modern 395 #11,390
2005 modern 386 #11,493
2006 modern 385 #11,556
2007 modern 394 #11,508
2008 modern 402 #11,419
2009 modern 415 #11,386
2010 modern 411 #11,723
2011 modern 407 #11,709
2012 modern 410 #11,518
2013 modern 426 #11,350
2014 modern 421 #11,544
2015 modern 422 #11,409
2016 modern 412 #11,627

Geography

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Where Waylands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, 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 Wychavon, Tendring and Reigate and Banstead. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 018 Wychavon
2 Tendring 001 Tendring
3 Tendring 013 Tendring
4 Reigate and Banstead 010 Reigate and Banstead
5 Reigate and Banstead 014 Reigate and Banstead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wayland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wayland

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Wayland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wayland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Wayland is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wayland is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Wayland

The surname Wayland originated in England and has a long history dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "wæge" meaning "way" and "land" meaning "land" or "estate," thus referring to a person who lived near a major road or highway.

The name Wayland is believed to have first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was Walter de Weylaund, who was listed as a landowner in Oxfordshire in the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Waylond" or "Weylaund," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that period. One notable individual with this surname was John Wayland, a member of the English Parliament in 1295.

By the 14th century, the name had evolved to its modern spelling of "Wayland." During this time, the Wayland family established itself in various parts of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire. A prominent figure from this era was Sir Thomas Wayland, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France in the mid-14th century.

In the 16th century, the name Wayland gained further recognition with the birth of Sir Watkin Wayland (1516-1590), a renowned English soldier and landowner. He served under King Henry VIII and was known for his military exploits during the Anglo-Scottish Wars.

Another notable Wayland was John Wayland (1638-1705), an English Puritan minister and author who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the late 17th century. He became a prominent figure in the early history of New England and published several influential religious works.

As the name spread across England and later to other parts of the world, various place names and locations were associated with the Wayland surname, such as Wayland Wood in Norfolk and Wayland's Smithy, an ancient long barrow in Oxfordshire.

Overall, the surname Wayland has a rich history deeply rooted in England, dating back to the 11th century and associated with landowners, soldiers, and notable figures throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wayland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wayland 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 85 Waylands recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.47x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 85 3.47x
Surrey 55 4.61x
Essex 36 7.45x
Gloucestershire 17 3.54x
Glamorgan 9 2.11x
Kent 9 1.08x
Somerset 7 1.78x
Cheshire 5 0.93x
Wiltshire 5 2.31x
Hampshire 4 0.80x
Lancashire 4 0.14x
Devon 3 0.59x
Norfolk 3 0.80x
Worcestershire 2 0.63x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.44x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.68x
Channel Islands 1 1.38x
Hertfordshire 1 0.59x
Midlothian 1 0.30x
Oxfordshire 1 0.66x
Sussex 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reigate Foreign in Surrey leads with 16 Waylands recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.84x.

Place Total Index
Reigate Foreign 16 123.84x
Islington London 13 5.48x
Lambeth 13 6.09x
Whitechapel London 13 53.87x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 26.54x
West Ham 11 10.31x
Colchester St Botolph 10 243.31x
Hackney London 9 6.56x
Llandaff 9 63.47x
St Luke London 8 20.37x
Babcary 7 2592.59x
Wandsworth 7 29.70x
Chelsea London 5 6.78x
Clapham 5 16.33x
Clerkenwell London 5 8.65x
Shoreditch London 5 4.71x
Tranmere 5 25.18x
Wanstead 5 59.10x
Bromley London 4 7.43x
Gillingham 4 23.23x
Hampton London 4 99.50x
Northfleet 4 54.35x
Richmond 4 23.92x
Ryde 4 37.11x
Westbury On Trym 4 24.59x
Wimbledon 4 29.87x
East Ham 3 33.44x
Pewsey 3 188.68x
St George In East 3 18.02x
St Pancras London 3 1.52x
Thundersley 3 681.82x
Downham Market 2 77.22x
Great Malvern 2 29.99x
Kingswood 2 606.06x
Mitcham 2 26.53x
Silverton 2 188.68x
St George Hanover 2 6.26x
St Martin In Fields 2 13.64x
Wormingford 2 500.00x
Bletchley 1 232.56x
Bow London 1 3.21x
Bristol St James In 1 14.16x
Cheetham 1 4.61x
Crathie Braemar 1 73.53x
Edinburgh Tron Church 1 64.94x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 8.57x
Froxfield 1 270.27x
Greenwich 1 2.57x
Grouville 1 49.51x
Hampstead London 1 2.62x
Heigham 1 4.95x
Hove 1 5.52x
Kensington London 1 0.73x
Leyton 1 12.02x
Leyton Low 1 10.18x
Mile End New Town 1 29.94x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.59x
Norwood 1 17.86x
Oxford St Ebbe 1 22.47x
Paddington London 1 1.11x
Poplar London 1 2.16x
Reigate Borough 1 36.36x
Salford 1 1.17x
St Marylebone London 1 0.77x
Sutton 1 11.59x
Tottington Lower End 1 7.24x
Watford 1 7.65x
West Derby 1 1.18x
Wilton 1 65.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 14
Mary 13
Alice 6
Emma 6
Sarah 6
Ada 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Jessie 3
Susanah 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Jane 2
Laura 2
Lilian 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Victoria 2
Anne 1
Catharine 1
Constance 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Eveline 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriot 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Issie 1
John 1
Julia 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 10
George 8
Thomas 8
Henry 7
James 7
Charles 4
Edward 4
Richard 4
Edwin 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Walter 2
Bertie 1
Chas.W. 1
Clarence 1
Douglas 1
Edgar 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
J.N. 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
R. 1
Richd. 1
Septimus 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Wayland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wayland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 250 people were recorded with the Wayland surname. That placed it at #11,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wayland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016. That gives Wayland a modern rank of #11,627.

What does the Wayland surname mean?

From an English place name, likely referring to a land by a road or path through a field.

What does the Wayland map show?

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