NameCensus.

UK surname

Weatherly

Derived from a place name referring to a clearing or meadow exposed to the elements.

In the 1881 census there were 375 people recorded with the Weatherly surname, ranking it #8,345 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 242, ranked #17,177, down from #8,345 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, Greenwich and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tunbridge Wells, Newcastle upon Tyne and Melrose and Tweedbank Area.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weatherly is 375 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.5%.

1881 census count

375

Ranked #8,345

Modern count

242

2016, ranked #17,177

Peak year

1881

375 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weatherly had 375 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,345 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016, ranked #17,177.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 375 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Weatherly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weatherly surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weatherly 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 340 #6,905
1861 historical 339 #7,522
1881 historical 375 #8,345
1891 historical 301 #11,092
1901 historical 336 #10,762
1911 historical 343 #10,416
1997 modern 273 #14,417
1998 modern 281 #14,506
1999 modern 281 #14,578
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 276 #14,507
2002 modern 277 #14,764
2003 modern 261 #15,180
2004 modern 265 #15,110
2005 modern 264 #15,085
2006 modern 256 #15,496
2007 modern 257 #15,606
2008 modern 268 #15,311
2009 modern 279 #15,184
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 273 #15,606
2012 modern 254 #16,328
2013 modern 251 #16,734
2014 modern 247 #17,035
2015 modern 244 #17,090
2016 modern 242 #17,177

Geography

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Where Weatherlys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Tunbridge Wells, Newcastle upon Tyne, Melrose and Tweedbank Area and Thanet. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Ruislip Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tunbridge Wells 014 Tunbridge Wells
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 031 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Melrose and Tweedbank Area Scottish Borders
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 020 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Thanet 015 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weatherly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weatherly

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Weatherly 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

Weatherly is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Weatherly falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Weatherly

The surname Weatherly is of English origin, derived from a place name that refers to a location where the weather was particularly prominent or noticeable. It likely emerged during the medieval period, when surnames began to be adopted by families.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Weatherly can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

The name Weatherly is believed to have originated from the Old English words "weder" (weather) and "leah" (meadow or clearing), indicating a location where the weather conditions were notable, such as a clearing or meadow exposed to the elements.

In the 13th century, records show a John de Wetherley in Buckinghamshire, England, in 1273. This variation in spelling, "Wetherley," highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Wetherely, Wetherly, and Weatherly. One notable person from this period was Sir Edward Weatherly (1515-1588), an English landowner and member of Parliament.

In the 18th century, the name Weatherly gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Weatherly (1722-1796), an English clergyman and author. He was known for his work titled "A Defence of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England."

Another well-known figure with the surname Weatherly was Sir Frederick Weatherly (1848-1929), an English lyricist and songwriter. He wrote the lyrics to numerous popular songs, including the famous ballad "Danny Boy."

In the 20th century, Jimmie Weatherly (1925-1998) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known for writing the hit song "The Midnight Hour," which was recorded by Wilson Pickett and later became a classic in the soul music genre.

While the surname Weatherly is not as common as some other English names, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period and has been associated with notable individuals in various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weatherly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weatherly 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 99 Weatherlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.71x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 99 2.71x
Kent 67 5.37x
Northumberland 53 9.74x
Surrey 31 1.74x
Berwickshire 24 54.18x
Hertfordshire 19 7.54x
Somerset 15 2.55x
Brecknockshire 10 13.67x
Buckinghamshire 10 4.52x
Durham 7 0.64x
Essex 4 0.55x
Lancashire 4 0.09x
Oxfordshire 4 1.77x
Warwickshire 4 0.43x
Cumberland 3 0.95x
Devon 3 0.39x
Lanarkshire 3 0.25x
Yorkshire 3 0.08x
Hampshire 2 0.27x
Midlothian 2 0.41x
Staffordshire 2 0.16x
Berkshire 1 0.36x
Glamorgan 1 0.16x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Lincolnshire 1 0.17x
Perthshire 1 0.61x
Suffolk 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portishead in Somerset leads with 13 Weatherlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 296.80x.

Place Total Index
Portishead 13 296.80x
Greenwich 12 20.61x
Hillingdon 11 94.34x
Lambeth 11 3.45x
Whitstable 11 179.74x
Builth 10 549.45x
Earlston 10 450.45x
Bedlington 9 49.53x
Hackney London 9 4.39x
Mickley 9 523.26x
Ruislip 9 494.51x
Slaley 9 1698.11x
Willesden 9 26.10x
Islington London 8 2.26x
Coldingham 7 175.88x
Dartford 7 54.86x
Ealing 7 21.41x
Iver 7 245.61x
Kings Langley 7 380.43x
Lewisham 7 10.52x
Battersea 6 4.46x
Enfield 6 25.00x
Longhurst 6 571.43x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 18.46x
Putney 6 35.99x
Ramsgate 6 29.46x
Stocksfield Hall 6 4285.71x
Pinner 5 156.25x
Gateshead 4 4.91x
Holywell 4 377.36x
Northaw 4 547.95x
St Marylebone London 4 2.05x
Tonbridge 4 8.89x
Watford 4 20.46x
Aston 3 1.18x
Chirnside 3 157.89x
Chislehurst 3 44.84x
Chiswick 3 15.01x
Croydon 3 3.03x
Farnborough 3 164.84x
Frindsbury 3 63.83x
Govan 3 1.03x
Heworth 3 13.99x
Hutton 3 247.93x
Leeds 3 1.47x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 5.12x
Southfleet 3 258.62x
St Albans 3 58.03x
St George Hanover 3 6.28x
Stainton 3 285.71x
Berwick Upon Tweed 2 17.35x
Bromley London 2 2.49x
Chalfont St Peter 2 109.89x
Elswick 2 4.60x
Great Baddow 2 77.82x
Harefield 2 106.38x
Hendon 2 15.20x
Milton In Gravesend 2 10.68x
Newington 2 1.48x
Paddington London 2 1.49x
Stoke Newington London 2 7.02x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.53x
Twickenham 2 12.76x
West Derby 2 1.57x
Westminster St James 2 5.32x
Byker 1 3.72x
Camberwell 1 0.43x
Clapham 1 2.19x
Clifton 1 2.76x
Cockburnspath 1 70.42x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.51x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 17.92x
Hayes 1 114.94x
Hornsey 1 2.16x
Limehouse London 1 2.49x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.54x
Port Of Monteith 1 67.57x
Portsmouth 1 5.79x
St Pancras London 1 0.34x
St Sepulchre London 1 18.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 18
George 15
James 13
Thomas 13
Edward 9
Henry 9
Charles 7
Frederick 6
Alfred 5
Joseph 5
Walter 5
Geo. 3
Albert 2
Cecil 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Fredck. 2
Herbert 2
Norman 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Alec 1
Alf. 1
Ananias 1
Charley 1
Chas 1
Chas.T. 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Jas. 1
Johnson 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Ralph 1
Randall 1
Samnuel 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Weatherly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weatherly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 375 people were recorded with the Weatherly surname. That placed it at #8,345 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weatherly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016. That gives Weatherly a modern rank of #17,177.

What does the Weatherly surname mean?

Derived from a place name referring to a clearing or meadow exposed to the elements.

What does the Weatherly map show?

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