UK surname
A derived surname indicating a person possessed inferior physical strength.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Weaks surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, Carmarthen St Peter (incl. Castle Green), Newchurch and Glossop. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weaks is 127 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.8%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1861
127 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Weaks surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Weaks surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 17 | #30,267 |
| 1861 | historical | 127 | #17,469 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 52 | #30,061 |
| 1901 | historical | 23 | #31,466 |
| 1911 | historical | 17 | #31,675 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 24 | #35,498 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 30 | #35,526 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 27 | #35,956 |
| 2009 | modern | 24 | #36,261 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 29 | #36,004 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, Carmarthen St Peter (incl. Castle Green), Newchurch, Glossop, Eglwysilan and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 2 | Carmarthen St Peter (incl. Castle Green), Newchurch | Carmarthenshire |
| 3 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Eglwysilan | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Paisley Abbey | Renfrew |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Weaks surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Weaks, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Weaks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Weaks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Weaks is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Weaks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Weaks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "WEAKS" is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "wic," which referred to a small settlement or dwelling place. It is possible that the name was initially given to someone who lived in or near a small hamlet or village.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1195, where a person named Robert Wyke is mentioned. This early spelling variation, "Wyke," is likely an ancestral form of the modern surname "WEAKS."
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various manorial records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named Henry de la Wyke is listed. The use of the preposition "de la" in this instance suggests that the individual was associated with a specific location bearing the name "Wyke."
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname "WEAKS" or its early variants. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as Wick in Worcestershire and Wyke in Somerset.
One notable individual with the surname "WEAKS" was Sir Thomas Wyke (c. 1460-1537), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Henry VIII. Another noteworthy figure was Captain John Wyke (c. 1585-1627), an English explorer and maritime adventurer who was among the earliest European settlers in Bermuda.
In the 17th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Weeke," "Weik," and "Weeks," as evidenced by parish records and legal documents from that period. One example is William Weeke (1608-1691), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
As the surname spread throughout England and eventually to other parts of the British Isles, various spelling variations emerged, reflecting regional dialects and local pronunciations. Some notable individuals with the surname "WEAKS" in later centuries include John Weeks (1770-1853), an English sculptor and engraver, and Sir Wilfred Weeks (1904-1980), a British politician and Member of Parliament.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weaks surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 5 Weaks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 5 | 11.70x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 1.59x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 1.00x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 5.04x |
| Kent | 2 | 2.31x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.79x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 9.13x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 7.62x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.79x |
| Durham | 1 | 1.33x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 2.01x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.92x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 2.93x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Linthorpe in Yorkshire leads with 4 Weaks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 266.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Linthorpe | 4 | 266.67x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 3 | 329.67x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 16.42x |
| Eckington | 2 | 208.33x |
| Greenwich | 2 | 49.51x |
| Moreton Say | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Bishopstoke | 1 | 769.23x |
| Crawley | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Ifield | 1 | 555.56x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 35.97x |
| Luton | 1 | 44.05x |
| Nottingham St Nicholas | 1 | 212.77x |
| Siston | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Stockport | 1 | 34.72x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 27.47x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 24.75x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Weaks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Weaks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Weaks households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dk Lab | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Laborers Wife | 1 |
| Lace Manufacturers Assistant | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Retired Tailor | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Solicitors Clerk General | 1 |
| Staymaker | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Weaks surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Weaks a modern rank of #36,324.
A derived surname indicating a person possessed inferior physical strength.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Weaks bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.