NameCensus.

UK surname

Weatherall

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "sheltered hill".

In the 1881 census there were 581 people recorded with the Weatherall surname, ranking it #6,004 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,211, ranked #4,912, up from #6,004 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Graveney, Boughton-under-Blean, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Bingley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chesterfield, Dover and Mid Nithsdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weatherall is 1,294 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 108.4%.

1881 census count

581

Ranked #6,004

Modern count

1,211

2016, ranked #4,912

Peak year

2010

1,294 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weatherall had 581 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,004 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,211 in 2016, ranked #4,912.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 956 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Weatherall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weatherall surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weatherall 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 269 #8,303
1861 historical 349 #7,318
1881 historical 581 #6,004
1891 historical 653 #5,944
1901 historical 854 #5,341
1911 historical 956 #4,713
1997 modern 1,176 #4,801
1998 modern 1,293 #4,593
1999 modern 1,270 #4,698
2000 modern 1,256 #4,721
2001 modern 1,246 #4,656
2002 modern 1,274 #4,658
2003 modern 1,222 #4,730
2004 modern 1,227 #4,714
2005 modern 1,216 #4,708
2006 modern 1,194 #4,794
2007 modern 1,216 #4,756
2008 modern 1,235 #4,730
2009 modern 1,266 #4,728
2010 modern 1,294 #4,726
2011 modern 1,271 #4,746
2012 modern 1,212 #4,872
2013 modern 1,228 #4,900
2014 modern 1,232 #4,902
2015 modern 1,227 #4,872
2016 modern 1,211 #4,912

Geography

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Where Weatheralls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Graveney, Boughton-under-Blean, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Bingley, Gainsborough, Paddocks and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chesterfield, Dover, Mid Nithsdale, Pembrokeshire and Ibrox East and Cessnock. 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 Graveney, Boughton-under-Blean Kent
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Bingley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chesterfield 006 Chesterfield
2 Dover 001 Dover
3 Mid Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
4 Pembrokeshire 013 Pembrokeshire
5 Ibrox East and Cessnock Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weatherall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weatherall

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Weatherall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Weatherall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Weatherall 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

Weatherall 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

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

Meaning and origin of Weatherall

The surname Weatherall is an English locational name that originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "wæther" meaning "stormy weather" and "halh" meaning "a nook or corner of land." Therefore, the name likely referred to someone who lived in a sheltered area or valley prone to stormy weather.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a John de Wetherhal in Cambridgeshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1332 also reference a William Wetherall in Yorkshire.

In the 16th century, the name was often spelled as "Wetherall" or "Wetherhole," reflecting its locational origins and the evolution of English spelling over time. During this period, the Weatherall family was prominent in the northern counties of England, particularly in Northumberland and Durham.

One notable figure bearing this surname was Sir Edward Weatherall (1558-1623), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Newcastle upon Tyne. He served as Mayor of Newcastle and was knighted by King James I in 1617.

Another historical figure was William Weatherall (1693-1766), a Church of England clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk from 1749 until his death.

In the 18th century, the Weatherall family expanded their influence, with members becoming landowners and holding prominent positions in various professions. John Weatherall (1727-1794) was a respected lawyer and judge, while his son, also named John Weatherall (1761-1833), was a renowned physician and author of medical treatises.

During the 19th century, the name Weatherall continued to be prevalent in northern England, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. These include Sir Robert Weatherall (1810-1892), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Newcastle, and George Weatherall (1842-1922), a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Weatherall has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many families tracing their ancestry back to the northern counties where the name first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weatherall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weatherall 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. Yorkshire leads with 112 Weatheralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.99x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 112 1.99x
Nottinghamshire 87 11.39x
Durham 85 5.04x
Middlesex 77 1.36x
Lancashire 59 0.88x
Kent 41 2.12x
Essex 19 1.70x
Surrey 17 0.62x
Lincolnshire 16 1.77x
Staffordshire 11 0.58x
Lanarkshire 10 0.55x
Warwickshire 7 0.49x
Derbyshire 5 0.56x
Northamptonshire 5 0.94x
Suffolk 5 0.72x
Renfrewshire 4 0.91x
Hertfordshire 3 0.77x
Shropshire 3 0.61x
Berkshire 2 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.56x
Cheshire 2 0.16x
Hampshire 2 0.17x
Denbighshire 1 0.47x
Gloucestershire 1 0.09x
Northumberland 1 0.12x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.20x
Worcestershire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Seaham in Durham leads with 29 Weatheralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 471.54x.

Place Total Index
Seaham 29 471.54x
Morton In Keighley 27 612.24x
Kensington London 18 5.71x
Nottingham St Mary 18 9.11x
Greenwich 14 15.52x
Boughton Under Blean 13 401.23x
Everton 13 6.07x
Crossgate 11 149.25x
Holy Trinity 11 8.14x
Linthorpe 11 32.82x
Lambley 9 576.92x
West Derby 9 4.57x
Arnold 8 71.75x
Nottingham St Peter 8 93.90x
Shelford Saxondale 8 769.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 7.02x
Stockton On Tees 8 9.84x
Wolstanton Oldcott 8 115.44x
Bulwell 7 42.14x
Canterbury St Peter 7 321.10x
Colchester St Mary At 7 176.32x
Habergham Eaves 7 11.39x
Hunslet 7 7.99x
Liversedge 7 28.00x
Ratcliffe London 7 22.36x
St George Hanover 7 9.46x
Stranton 7 12.33x
Colchester St Giles 6 54.30x
Elton 6 4000.00x
Gainsborough 6 28.09x
Glasgow 6 1.84x
Grantham 6 50.80x
Kettlewell With 6 821.92x
Knottingley 6 60.79x
Radcliffe 6 18.51x
St Marylebone London 6 1.98x
Bainbridge 5 375.94x
Birmingham 5 1.05x
Bishopwearmouth 5 3.45x
Hackney London 5 1.57x
Laxton 5 531.91x
Mansfield 5 18.92x
Pendleton In Salford 5 6.24x
Shipton In Pocklington 5 602.41x
St George Martyr 5 52.36x
Witton Gilbert 5 75.08x
Basford 4 11.36x
Bedale 4 196.08x
Bermondsey 4 2.37x
Byers Green 4 84.03x
Hamilton 4 7.82x
Norton 4 64.52x
Ovenden 4 16.01x
Poplar London 4 3.74x
Port Glasgow 4 18.84x
Preston 4 2.22x
Snenton 4 13.33x
St George In East 4 10.38x
St Martin In Fields 4 11.79x
Staveley 4 25.40x
Weedon Beck 4 104.71x
West Ham 4 1.62x
Wingate 4 34.60x
Chelsea London 3 1.76x
Crook Billy Row 3 13.90x
Faversham 3 16.27x
Hertford St Andrew 3 62.24x
Much Wenlock 3 66.37x
Walton On Hill 3 8.24x
Westhorpe 3 731.71x
Wigan 3 3.19x
Aston 2 0.51x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 2 29.85x
Borough Green 2 256.41x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 1.87x
Norwood 2 15.43x
Saddleworth 2 4.62x
St Giles In Fields 2 10.23x
Wandsworth 2 3.67x
Westminster St 2 9.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 46
William 39
James 19
George 16
Thomas 16
Henry 15
Charles 13
Richard 12
Robert 12
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Ernest 5
Francis 5
Harry 5
Samuel 5
Christopher 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Jesse 2
Benjamin 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Heanery 1
Jonathan 1
Levi 1
Luke 1
Mailer 1
Mark 1
Nicholas 1
Oliver 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Ruben 1
Saml. 1
Samm 1
Serist 1
Stephen 1
Thompson 1

FAQ

Weatherall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weatherall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 581 people were recorded with the Weatherall surname. That placed it at #6,004 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weatherall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,211 in 2016. That gives Weatherall a modern rank of #4,912.

What does the Weatherall surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "sheltered hill".

What does the Weatherall map show?

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