NameCensus.

UK surname

Weatherley

A topographic surname referring to someone living on a windswept hill or exposed area.

In the 1881 census there were 572 people recorded with the Weatherley surname, ranking it #6,084 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,277, ranked #4,685, up from #6,084 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes and Lewisham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, South Norfolk and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weatherley is 1,450 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 123.3%.

1881 census count

572

Ranked #6,084

Modern count

1,277

2016, ranked #4,685

Peak year

1998

1,450 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weatherley had 572 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,084 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,277 in 2016, ranked #4,685.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,150 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Weatherley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weatherley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weatherley 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 277 #8,112
1861 historical 373 #6,841
1881 historical 572 #6,084
1891 historical 831 #4,890
1901 historical 1,008 #4,730
1911 historical 1,150 #4,059
1997 modern 1,389 #4,163
1998 modern 1,450 #4,169
1999 modern 1,436 #4,216
2000 modern 1,447 #4,186
2001 modern 1,402 #4,216
2002 modern 1,420 #4,244
2003 modern 1,377 #4,274
2004 modern 1,376 #4,286
2005 modern 1,331 #4,352
2006 modern 1,300 #4,441
2007 modern 1,313 #4,447
2008 modern 1,327 #4,432
2009 modern 1,333 #4,509
2010 modern 1,372 #4,479
2011 modern 1,345 #4,508
2012 modern 1,311 #4,540
2013 modern 1,313 #4,615
2014 modern 1,311 #4,641
2015 modern 1,308 #4,604
2016 modern 1,277 #4,685

Geography

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Where Weatherleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes, Lewisham and Ealing, Chiswick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, South Norfolk, Rotherham, Forest of Dean and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lewisham London (South Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 038 Northumberland
2 South Norfolk 013 South Norfolk
3 Rotherham 004 Rotherham
4 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
5 Central Bedfordshire 028 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weatherley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weatherley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Weatherley 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

Weatherley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Weatherley

The surname Weatherley originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "wether" and "leah," meaning "ram" and "meadow" or "clearing," respectively. The name likely referred to a meadow or clearing where rams grazed or were kept.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Weatherley can be found in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like record compiled in 1274-1275 for parts of England. In this record, the name appears as "Wetherleye." Other early variations of the spelling include "Wetherley," "Wetherlye," and "Wetherlee."

The Weatherley name has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. Some place names that may have influenced the surname include Weatherley in Warwickshire, Wetherley in Gloucestershire, and Wetherley in Worcestershire.

Notable individuals throughout history with the surname Weatherley include:

1. Sir John Weatherley (c. 1570-1645), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Warwick in the early 17th century. 2. Thomas Weatherley (1749-1828), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of University College, Oxford, from 1797 to 1828. 3. William Weatherley (1793-1869), an English architect known for his work on churches and other buildings in London and the surrounding areas. 4. Edward Weatherley (1824-1887), an English composer and songwriter who wrote popular songs in the Victorian era, including "Nancy Lee" and "The Anchor's Weighed." 5. Frederick Edward Weatherley (1848-1929), an English lyricist and songwriter, best known for writing the lyrics to the popular song "Danny Boy."

While the Weatherley surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, through migration and immigration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weatherley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weatherley 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 228 Weatherleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.09x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 228 4.09x
Kent 99 5.21x
Surrey 49 1.81x
Northumberland 42 5.07x
Lancashire 34 0.51x
Durham 25 1.51x
Yorkshire 22 0.40x
Hertfordshire 12 3.13x
Brecknockshire 8 7.18x
Dorset 8 2.19x
Buckinghamshire 7 2.08x
Derbyshire 6 0.69x
Cornwall 5 0.79x
Midlothian 5 0.67x
Essex 4 0.36x
Sussex 4 0.43x
Lincolnshire 3 0.34x
Devon 2 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.81x
Staffordshire 2 0.11x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.19x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Wigtownshire 1 1.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 19 Weatherleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.91x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 19 3.91x
Islington London 18 3.33x
St Marylebone London 18 6.05x
Lewisham 16 15.79x
Ealing 15 30.13x
Bishopwearmouth 13 9.14x
Enfield 13 35.57x
Edmonton 12 26.74x
Gateshead 12 9.67x
Dartford 11 56.61x
St George Hanover 11 15.13x
West Derby 11 5.69x
Whitstable 11 118.03x
Ickenham 10 1315.79x
Paddington London 10 4.88x
Hammersmith London 9 6.56x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 9 714.29x
Pinner 9 184.43x
Bethnal Green London 8 3.31x
Bromley London 8 6.53x
Builth 8 288.81x
Chislehurst 8 78.51x
Farnborough 8 288.81x
Maidstone 8 14.13x
Netherbury 8 264.90x
St Albans St Peter 8 61.78x
Barnes 7 60.98x
Burradon In Tynemouth 7 330.19x
Newburn Hall 7 448.72x
Poplar London 7 6.66x
Ruislip 7 252.71x
St Mary Cray 7 192.84x
Staines 7 79.37x
Beard 6 211.27x
Cranford 6 625.00x
Hendon 6 29.94x
Iver 6 138.25x
St Pauls Cray 6 413.79x
York St Giles In 6 115.38x
Battersea 5 2.44x
Caterham 5 41.67x
Chipping Barnet 5 342.47x
Elswick 5 7.56x
Hessle In Sculcoates 5 102.67x
Hexham 5 38.97x
Kearsley 5 35.95x
Pennington In Leigh 5 39.43x
Streatham 5 12.10x
Strood 5 46.13x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.04x
Duddingston 4 26.70x
Everton 4 1.90x
Falmouth 4 17.92x
Greenwich 4 4.51x
Hackney London 4 1.28x
Manchester 4 1.35x
New Shoreham 4 71.05x
Rotherhithe 4 5.81x
St Luke London 4 4.48x
St Pancras London 4 0.89x
Toxteth Park 4 1.79x
Berwick Upon Tweed 3 17.08x
Hampstead London 3 3.46x
Harefield 3 104.53x
Harlington 3 102.04x
Hothfield 3 483.87x
Kensington London 3 0.97x
Knockholt 3 197.37x
Laceby 3 154.64x
Leeds 3 0.96x
Northallerton 3 42.61x
Ormesby 3 20.23x
Walthamstow 3 7.58x
Great Stanmore 2 80.00x
Harrow On The Hill 2 17.97x
Hatfield 2 25.71x
Hillingdon 2 11.26x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 4.04x
Tonbridge 2 2.92x
Tynemouth 2 4.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 21
Jane 16
Alice 10
Eliza 10
Emma 10
Ann 9
Annie 8
Ellen 7
Harriet 7
Edith 6
Louisa 6
Margaret 6
Martha 6
Fanny 5
Kate 5
Ada 4
Emily 4
Julia 4
Beatrice 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Jessie 3
Maria 3
Anne 2
Dorothy 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Lily 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
C.M. 1
Carlina 1
E. 1
E.E. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth.J. 1
H. 1
Halda 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 24
Henry 22
James 21
Thomas 21
George 15
Charles 14
Arthur 9
Joseph 9
Frederick 8
Edward 6
Walter 6
Herbert 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Ralph 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Andrew 3
Robt. 3
Albert 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Dixon 2
Earnest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Leonard 2
Richard 2
Sydney 2
Barnet 1
Christopher 1
Danel 1
Ed.John 1
Edwd. 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Fredrick 1
Gertrude 1
Jacob 1
Jame 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Martin 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Weatherley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weatherley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 572 people were recorded with the Weatherley surname. That placed it at #6,084 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weatherley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,277 in 2016. That gives Weatherley a modern rank of #4,685.

What does the Weatherley surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living on a windswept hill or exposed area.

What does the Weatherley map show?

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