NameCensus.

UK surname

Weatherson

A surname derived from a locality name referring to someone from a place with inclement weather or windy conditions.

In the 1881 census there were 101 people recorded with the Weatherson surname, ranking it #19,636 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, down from #19,636 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lesbury, Hull Holy Trinity and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weatherson is 182 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.4%.

1881 census count

101

Ranked #19,636

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2011

182 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weatherson had 101 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,636 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Weatherson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weatherson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weatherson 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 101 #19,636
1891 historical 119 #21,415
1901 historical 107 #21,955
1911 historical 113 #21,168
1997 modern 139 #22,132
1998 modern 155 #21,227
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 168 #20,227
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 163 #21,989
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 173 #21,639
2015 modern 165 #22,241
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Weathersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lesbury, Hull Holy Trinity, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Corsenside. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland. 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 Lesbury Northumberland
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Corsenside Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 025 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Northumberland 040 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 030 Northumberland
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 019 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Northumberland 037 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weatherson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weatherson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Weatherson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Weatherson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Weatherson 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

Weatherson 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

Weatherson 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 Weatherson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Weatherson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Weatherson

The surname WEATHERSON is of English origin, derived from the medieval occupation of a weatherman or meteorologist. Its roots can be traced back to the 13th century, originating predominantly in the northern English counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland.

The name WEATHERSON is believed to have evolved from the Old English word "wederian," meaning "to observe the weather," combined with the suffix "-son," indicating "son of." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely the sons or descendants of individuals employed as weather observers or forecasters.

Historical records show that the name WEATHERSON first appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, referencing a certain John Wedreson. This entry provides one of the earliest documented instances of the surname's usage.

In the 14th century, the WEATHERSON name was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Northumberland, where a William Wedresone was recorded in 1332. This suggests that the name had spread to neighboring regions by that time.

During the late medieval period, the surname WEATHERSON was occasionally spelled in various ways, such as Wedderson, Wetherson, and Wetherston, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

Notable individuals bearing the WEATHERSON surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Weatherson (1560-1623), an English scholar and author who published works on theology and philosophy. 2. Robert Weatherson (1675-1742), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the establishment of the Virginia Colony in North America. 3. Elizabeth Weatherson (1818-1892), a British philanthropist and women's rights activist, known for her work in promoting education and social reforms. 4. James Weatherson (1862-1941), a renowned English architect, responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London, including the Victoria and Albert Museum. 5. Margaret Weatherson (1927-2011), a Canadian author and poet, celebrated for her contributions to the literary scene of the 20th century.

While the WEATHERSON name has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, it has maintained its connection to the ancient occupation of weather observation and forecasting, reflecting the rich tapestry of English history and linguistic evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weatherson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weatherson 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. Northumberland leads with 63 Weathersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.41x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 63 43.41x
Berwickshire 11 93.14x
Durham 7 2.41x
Middlesex 5 0.51x
Essex 4 2.08x
Roxburghshire 3 16.98x
Suffolk 3 2.53x
Yorkshire 2 0.21x
Lancashire 1 0.09x
Peeblesshire 1 21.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coldstream in Berwickshire leads with 8 Weathersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 941.18x.

Place Total Index
Coldstream 8 941.18x
Snitter 8 16000.00x
Tynemouth 8 102.96x
Elswick 7 60.45x
Great Tosson Ryehill 7 17500.00x
Otterburn 6 5454.55x
South Shields 6 231.66x
Kidland 5 25000.00x
Thropton 5 5555.56x
Cavers 3 681.82x
East Ham 3 84.03x
Eccles 3 576.92x
Rothbury 3 714.29x
Stannington 3 882.35x
Waldringfield 3 3333.33x
Wallsend 3 65.22x
Holy Trinity 2 8.60x
Kensington London 2 3.69x
St Pancras London 2 2.55x
Belford 1 322.58x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 32.47x
Elsdon 1 1428.57x
Fawdon Clinch Hartside 1 1666.67x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 7.96x
Hepple 1 3333.33x
High Low Trewhitt 1 3333.33x
Paddington London 1 2.79x
Peebles 1 73.53x
Preston In Tynemouth 1 175.44x
Salford 1 2.94x
West Ham 1 2.35x
West Whelpington 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Jane 7
Margaret 4
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Eleanor 3
Barbara 2
Emma 2
Isabella 2
Ann 1
Annabel 1
Annabell 1
Annie 1
Barbary 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Isabel 1
Jemmima 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Phillis 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 7
Robert 7
Joseph 5
William 4
John 3
George 2
Andrew 1
Edward 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
Leman 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
Wm.Robt. 1

FAQ

Weatherson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weatherson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 101 people were recorded with the Weatherson surname. That placed it at #19,636 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weatherson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Weatherson a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Weatherson surname mean?

A surname derived from a locality name referring to someone from a place with inclement weather or windy conditions.

What does the Weatherson map show?

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