NameCensus.

UK surname

Weal

A surname originating from the Old English word "wela" meaning prosperity or wealth.

In the 1881 census there were 255 people recorded with the Weal surname, ranking it #10,924 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 320, ranked #14,096, down from #10,924 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lewisham, London parishes and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Waltham Forest and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weal is 357 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.5%.

1881 census count

255

Ranked #10,924

Modern count

320

2016, ranked #14,096

Peak year

1998

357 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weal had 255 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,924 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 320 in 2016, ranked #14,096.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 336 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Weal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weal surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weal 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 244 #8,950
1861 historical 300 #8,432
1881 historical 255 #10,924
1891 historical 308 #10,886
1901 historical 325 #11,017
1911 historical 336 #10,563
1997 modern 352 #12,117
1998 modern 357 #12,372
1999 modern 354 #12,497
2000 modern 351 #12,534
2001 modern 336 #12,721
2002 modern 347 #12,699
2003 modern 321 #13,218
2004 modern 337 #12,818
2005 modern 323 #13,133
2006 modern 302 #13,863
2007 modern 293 #14,272
2008 modern 291 #14,430
2009 modern 302 #14,353
2010 modern 325 #13,946
2011 modern 322 #13,907
2012 modern 319 #13,898
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 337 #13,659
2015 modern 319 #14,118
2016 modern 320 #14,096

Geography

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Where Weals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lewisham, London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Gretna and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Waltham Forest, Wiltshire and Bexley. 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 Lewisham London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Gretna Dumfries
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 002 Leeds
2 Waltham Forest 005 Waltham Forest
3 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
4 Bexley 009 Bexley
5 Leeds 001 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weal

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Weal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Weal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Weal is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Weal is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Weal falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Weal

The surname WEAL is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "wealhcyning," which means "foreigner" or "stranger." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who were perceived as outsiders or immigrants in a particular area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name WEAL can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This historical document mentions a landowner named Godric Weal, who held estates in the county of Gloucestershire.

During the 13th century, the name WEAL appeared in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals with this surname in counties like Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. The name was sometimes spelled differently, such as "Weale" or "Wealle," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during this period.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the WEAL surname was John Weal, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was born around 1320 and played an influential role in the city's governance and trade affairs during his lifetime.

Another historically significant individual with the WEAL surname was Sir Thomas Weal, a military commander who served under King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his valor in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and later became the governor of the strategically important town of Rouen in northern France.

In the 16th century, the WEAL surname was associated with the village of Weald, located in Kent, England. This place name is derived from the Old English word "weald," meaning "forest" or "wooded area," suggesting a possible connection between the surname and geographic origins.

During the 17th century, a notable bearer of the WEAL surname was Richard Weal, a prominent clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Bingham in Nottinghamshire. He was born in 1612 and authored several influential theological works during his lifetime.

As the WEAL surname spread across England and beyond, it became associated with various places and localities, such as Wealdstone in Middlesex and Wealden in East Sussex, further solidifying its connection to the Old English word "weald" and its geographic roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weal 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. Essex leads with 75 Weals recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.28x.

County Total Index
Essex 75 15.28x
Middlesex 56 2.25x
Kent 29 3.42x
Surrey 24 1.98x
Lancashire 19 0.64x
Dumfriesshire 8 14.56x
Shropshire 8 3.72x
Brecknockshire 7 14.07x
Staffordshire 5 0.60x
Monmouthshire 4 2.22x
Montgomeryshire 4 7.02x
Warwickshire 3 0.48x
Yorkshire 3 0.12x
Dorset 2 1.23x
Durham 2 0.27x
Leicestershire 2 0.73x
Cornwall 1 0.36x
Gloucestershire 1 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 0.58x
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. Ealing in Middlesex leads with 19 Weals recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.47x.

Place Total Index
Ealing 19 85.47x
Lewisham 12 26.52x
Bow London 11 34.74x
Greenwich 10 25.25x
Shenfield 10 787.40x
South Weald 10 237.53x
Grays Thurrock 9 197.37x
Great Warley 9 810.81x
Kelvedon Hatch 9 2812.50x
Gretna 8 776.70x
Bermondsey 7 9.45x
Camberwell 7 4.41x
Clee St Margaret 7 3043.48x
Hackney London 7 5.02x
Stanford Rivers 7 843.37x
Little Thurrock 6 1538.46x
Toxteth Park 6 6.00x
Barking 5 34.79x
Doddinghurst 5 1428.57x
Llangunider 5 161.29x
Salford 5 5.76x
Isleworth 4 36.17x
Kingswinford 4 13.12x
Lambeth 4 1.84x
Llandyssil 4 655.74x
Over Darwen 4 16.97x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.78x
Alexton 2 5000.00x
Aston 2 1.16x
Bedwellty 2 6.30x
Blackburn 2 2.55x
Chipping Ongar 2 238.10x
Clitheroe 2 23.02x
Crayford 2 53.91x
Kensington London 2 1.45x
Kingsbury 2 307.69x
Kingston On Thames 2 6.87x
Mile End Old Town 2 5.09x
Sawdon 2 1428.57x
Walton On Thames 2 35.97x
Aberystruth 1 6.31x
Beckenham 1 9.02x
Birmingham 1 0.48x
Bishop Stortford 1 17.45x
Buckland In Dover 1 35.59x
Chardstock 1 88.50x
Chatham 1 4.28x
Chelsea London 1 1.33x
Croydon 1 1.49x
Cwmdu 1 123.46x
Durham St Nicholas 1 54.95x
Hammerwich 1 84.03x
Hastings St Clement 1 25.32x
High Ongar 1 109.89x
Hoo 1 88.50x
Llanfihangel Bryn 1 400.00x
Maidstone 1 3.96x
Monmouth 1 20.96x
Newbottle 1 24.75x
Paddington London 1 1.09x
Portland 1 11.39x
Shifnal 1 17.15x
Shoreditch London 1 0.93x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.00x
St George In East 1 5.91x
St Martin Orgars 1 1666.67x
St Mary Magdalene 1 48.31x
St Olave Silver Street 1 1428.57x
Theydon Garnon 1 89.29x
Thornton Dale 1 153.85x
Woodchester 1 129.87x
Woodham Ferris 1 175.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 14
James 13
Thomas 12
Edward 9
Charles 6
George 6
Richard 6
Alfred 5
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Henery 2
Henry 2
Albert 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Maurice 1
Parmenias 1
Reuben 1
Rice 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Williams 1
Willm.Thos.James 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Weal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 255 people were recorded with the Weal surname. That placed it at #10,924 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 320 in 2016. That gives Weal a modern rank of #14,096.

What does the Weal surname mean?

A surname originating from the Old English word "wela" meaning prosperity or wealth.

What does the Weal map show?

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