NameCensus.

UK surname

Weatherby

Derived from a place name meaning "weather by," referring to a settlement close to a weather-exposed area.

In the 1881 census there were 426 people recorded with the Weatherby surname, ranking it #7,620 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 498, ranked #10,010, down from #7,620 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Astbury and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Trafford and Wychavon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weatherby is 519 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.9%.

1881 census count

426

Ranked #7,620

Modern count

498

2016, ranked #10,010

Peak year

2000

519 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weatherby had 426 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,620 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 498 in 2016, ranked #10,010.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 433 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Weatherby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weatherby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weatherby 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 313 #7,385
1861 historical 286 #8,793
1881 historical 426 #7,620
1891 historical 420 #8,528
1901 historical 433 #8,954
1911 historical 390 #9,455
1997 modern 465 #9,817
1998 modern 491 #9,737
1999 modern 493 #9,765
2000 modern 519 #9,352
2001 modern 498 #9,498
2002 modern 491 #9,752
2003 modern 469 #9,940
2004 modern 457 #10,168
2005 modern 452 #10,173
2006 modern 455 #10,160
2007 modern 455 #10,239
2008 modern 461 #10,235
2009 modern 472 #10,286
2010 modern 492 #10,178
2011 modern 485 #10,180
2012 modern 478 #10,190
2013 modern 498 #10,049
2014 modern 511 #9,927
2015 modern 516 #9,789
2016 modern 498 #10,010

Geography

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Where Weatherbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Astbury, Burslem, Manchester 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 Salford, Trafford, Wychavon, Rochdale and Kirklees. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Astbury Cheshire
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 001 Salford
2 Trafford 017 Trafford
3 Wychavon 001 Wychavon
4 Rochdale 025 Rochdale
5 Kirklees 054 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weatherby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weatherby

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

Weatherby 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

Weatherby falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Weatherby

The surname Weatherby is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is considered a locational surname, derived from a place name that referred to a particular town or village. One possible derivation is from the Old English words "wether" meaning a castrated ram, and "by" meaning a farmstead or village, suggesting the name may have originated in a rural area known for its sheep farming.

Another theory suggests the name Weatherby may be related to the Old Norse word "veðr," meaning storm or wind, combined with the Old English "by," potentially indicating a settlement exposed to harsh weather conditions. However, the exact origin remains uncertain due to the lack of definitive historical records.

The earliest known reference to the Weatherby surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where the name appears as "Wederbi" in the county of Yorkshire. This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and taxation across England.

One notable bearer of the Weatherby name was Sir Robert Weatherby (c. 1450-1528), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He served as Lord Mayor of York in 1506 and was a prominent figure in the city's governance during the Tudor period.

Another individual of historical significance was William Weatherby (1620-1689), a Puritan clergyman who emigrated from England to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. He served as the minister of the First Church of Ipswich and played a role in the early religious and cultural life of the colony.

In the 18th century, John Weatherby (1738-1810) gained recognition as a renowned gunsmith in London. His firearms, renowned for their craftsmanship and accuracy, were highly sought after by noblemen and sportsmen of the era.

During the Victorian era, James Weatherby (1825-1891) made his mark as a renowned horse racing official and bookmaker. He founded Weatherbys, a company that continues to serve as one of the leading authorities in the administration of British horse racing.

It's worth noting that variations in spelling, such as Wetherby, Wederby, and Wedderby, were common throughout history, likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping methods of the time.

While the Weatherby surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and continues to be borne by individuals across various cultures and backgrounds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weatherby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weatherby 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. Lancashire leads with 77 Weatherbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.56x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 77 1.56x
Staffordshire 57 4.06x
Middlesex 49 1.18x
Cheshire 48 5.23x
Northumberland 32 5.18x
Shropshire 27 7.52x
Surrey 27 1.33x
Kent 25 1.76x
Durham 23 1.86x
Yorkshire 11 0.27x
Warwickshire 9 0.86x
Hertfordshire 8 2.79x
Glamorgan 6 0.83x
Suffolk 6 1.19x
Lanarkshire 5 0.37x
Lincolnshire 5 0.75x
Derbyshire 4 0.61x
Hampshire 3 0.35x
Berkshire 1 0.32x
Dorset 1 0.37x
Merionethshire 1 1.32x
Sussex 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. Burslem in Staffordshire leads with 24 Weatherbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.73x.

Place Total Index
Burslem 24 59.73x
Stoke Upon Trent 24 16.14x
Somerford Booths 20 6451.61x
Manchester 17 7.67x
Cowpen 12 84.27x
Everton 11 7.00x
Salford 11 7.59x
Chorley 9 32.53x
Hackney London 9 3.86x
St Pancras London 9 2.69x
Lewisham 8 10.58x
Newcastle Under Lyme 8 32.23x
Walton On Thames 8 86.02x
Elswick 7 14.19x
Albrighton 6 346.82x
Chester Le Street 6 63.22x
Deptford St Paul 6 5.49x
Drayton In Hales 6 81.08x
Gorton 6 12.95x
Halsall 6 307.69x
Northenden 6 359.28x
Pownall Fee 6 146.34x
Southwold 6 200.00x
Ystradyfodwg 6 9.45x
Clee With Weelsby 5 34.36x
Cowley 5 704.23x
Earsdon 5 99.40x
Foleshill 5 45.33x
Ormskirk 5 53.02x
Sheffield 5 3.81x
Shrewsbury St Julian 5 56.31x
Wellington 5 24.78x
Camberwell 4 1.51x
Cheadle 4 22.83x
Chopwell 4 173.91x
Dartford 4 27.59x
Glasgow 4 1.68x
Heworth 4 16.42x
Hillingdon 4 30.19x
Ilkeston 4 21.93x
Prudhoe 4 93.02x
Richmond 4 14.10x
Scarisbrick 4 69.93x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 31.75x
Urpeth 4 165.98x
Weybridge 4 92.17x
Hammersmith London 3 2.93x
Islington London 3 0.74x
Lambeth 3 0.83x
Macclesfield 3 7.36x
North Meols 3 6.22x
St Andrew Holborn 3 21.29x
St Marylebone London 3 1.35x
Swettenham 3 1200.00x
Aston 2 0.69x
Bermondsey 2 1.62x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.55x
East Barnet 2 35.21x
Faversham 2 14.79x
Greenwich 2 3.02x
Hemel Hempstead 2 15.49x
Hetton Le Hole 2 12.76x
Linthwaite 2 23.12x
Longbenton 2 7.64x
Maidstone 2 4.74x
Marton In Prestbury 2 454.55x
Paddington London 2 1.31x
Siddington 2 344.83x
St Albans St Michael 2 62.50x
St George Hanover 2 3.69x
St Paul Walden 2 137.93x
Audley 1 7.20x
Battersea 1 0.65x
Chatham 1 2.56x
Clive 1 178.57x
Gawsworth 1 119.05x
Kensington London 1 0.43x
Northolt 1 140.85x
Northwood 1 8.24x
Reading St Giles 1 3.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 19
Jane 14
Ann 11
Eliza 10
Sarah 10
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Annie 6
Ada 4
Emma 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Eleanor 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Lucy 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Evelyn 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Margt. 2
Rachael 2
Amy 1
Anne 1
Bella 1
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Ealloner 1
Edis 1
Edna 1
Elishaba 1
Elizah 1
Elizth 1
Ella 1
France 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Henry 1
Janetta 1
Jemima 1
Voilet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 25
Thomas 20
George 16
James 15
Henry 12
Alfred 9
Charles 7
Joseph 6
Albert 5
Edward 5
Robert 5
Ernest 4
Peter 4
Arthur 3
Daniel 3
Harry 3
Nicholas 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
Christopher 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Andrew 1
Arther 1
Austin 1
Edwin 1
Ellis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jeffrey 1
Jn.Wm.Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Jno.G. 1
Louis 1
Morton 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Reuben 1
Thos 1
Thos. 1
Tobias 1
Tom 1
Vaughan 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Weatherby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weatherby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 426 people were recorded with the Weatherby surname. That placed it at #7,620 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weatherby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 498 in 2016. That gives Weatherby a modern rank of #10,010.

What does the Weatherby surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "weather by," referring to a settlement close to a weather-exposed area.

What does the Weatherby map show?

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