NameCensus.

UK surname

Weatherston

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a location meaning "stormy town" or "windy town".

In the 1881 census there were 301 people recorded with the Weatherston surname, ranking it #9,694 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 349, ranked #13,189, down from #9,694 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelso, Norham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kelso North, Drylaw and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weatherston is 366 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.9%.

1881 census count

301

Ranked #9,694

Modern count

349

2016, ranked #13,189

Peak year

1901

366 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weatherston had 301 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,694 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016, ranked #13,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 366 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Weatherston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weatherston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weatherston 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 301 #9,694
1891 historical 317 #10,611
1901 historical 366 #10,099
1911 historical 202 #14,871
1997 modern 317 #13,053
1998 modern 318 #13,362
1999 modern 317 #13,473
2000 modern 335 #12,953
2001 modern 328 #12,944
2002 modern 346 #12,733
2003 modern 320 #13,239
2004 modern 322 #13,260
2005 modern 324 #13,108
2006 modern 324 #13,183
2007 modern 335 #13,001
2008 modern 337 #13,068
2009 modern 336 #13,345
2010 modern 331 #13,769
2011 modern 329 #13,694
2012 modern 338 #13,304
2013 modern 342 #13,399
2014 modern 351 #13,227
2015 modern 350 #13,159
2016 modern 349 #13,189

Geography

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Where Weatherstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelso, Norham, London parishes, Gateshead and Govan Combination. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kelso North, Drylaw, Northumberland, Trinity East and The Dudleys and Abronhill North. 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 Kelso Roxburgh
2 Norham Northumberland
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Govan Combination Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kelso North Scottish Borders
2 Drylaw City of Edinburgh
3 Northumberland 012 Northumberland
4 Trinity East and The Dudleys City of Edinburgh
5 Abronhill North North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weatherston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weatherston

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Weatherston is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Weatherston is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Weatherston falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Weatherston

The surname Weatherston has its origins in England and Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It primarily appears in the northern counties of England and the Scottish Borders, an area known for its rich history and cultural intermingling. The name is thought to derive from Old English roots, with "Wether" (alternative spelling "Weather") referring to a castrated ram and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. Thus, Weatherston could be interpreted as "the farm where wethers are kept." Another possible origin is the Old English word "weard-er," meaning guard or watchman, suggesting a place associated with guarding or watchfulness.

Weatherston appears in various historical records, serving as a window into its lineage and spread. One notable appearance is in parish registers from the 16th and 17th centuries, which documented baptisms, marriages, and burials, contributing to our understanding of the family's demographic movements. In the 13th century, a Wauter Weatherston was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk in 1273, emphasizing the early presence of the surname in England.

The earliest recorded examples of the name Weatherston can be traced to the late medieval period. One early bearer of the name, Alexander Weatherston, appears in records from 1424 in the Scottish borders. Another notable individual is John Weatherston, born around 1500, who was recorded in local documents as a landowner in Northumberland.

As time moved into the Renaissance and early modern period, several members of the Weatherston family made significant contributions to their communities. Thomas Weatherston, born in 1565 and died in 1625, was a well-known merchant in Newcastle upon Tyne, noted for his involvement in the wool trade. George Weatherston, born in 1602, served as a minor official in Edinburgh and participated in various civic duties, displaying the increasing influence of the Weatherston family in urban settings.

In the 18th century, the name continued to appear in local histories. Samuel Weatherston, born in 1721 and died in 1789, gained renown as a stonemason in Durham, contributing to several significant architectural projects of the era. Another notable figure was Margaret Weatherston, born in 1768, who was known for her pioneering work in education in Scotland, establishing one of the first schools for girls in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Weatherston has displayed a fascinating path of evolution and prominence across various regions in England and Scotland. Each historical reference contributes a piece to the larger narrative of the name, highlighting the diverse roles and lives of those who bore it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weatherston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weatherston 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 77 Weatherstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.17x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 77 18.17x
Berwickshire 45 130.47x
Midlothian 45 11.79x
Durham 24 2.83x
Lanarkshire 23 2.50x
Roxburghshire 23 44.58x
Surrey 12 0.86x
Renfrewshire 11 4.98x
Peeblesshire 9 67.16x
Middlesex 6 0.21x
Hertfordshire 5 2.55x
Yorkshire 4 0.14x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 4.85x
Argyllshire 1 1.26x
Cumberland 1 0.41x
Devon 1 0.17x
Fife 1 0.59x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Selkirkshire 1 3.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lauder in Berwickshire leads with 20 Weatherstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1047.12x.

Place Total Index
Lauder 20 1047.12x
Glasgow 16 9.78x
Kelso 13 252.92x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 7.17x
Tynemouth 11 48.46x
Bamburgh 10 2941.18x
Bothal Demesne 10 492.61x
South Leith 10 23.29x
Berwick Upon Tweed 9 100.22x
Bishopwearmouth 8 11.00x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 21.80x
Liberton 8 135.82x
Cockpen 7 156.95x
Earlston 7 404.62x
Eccles 7 463.58x
Elswick 7 20.70x
Govan 7 3.07x
Loan End 7 5000.00x
Melrose 7 156.95x
Peebles 7 176.77x
Lambeth 6 2.42x
Paisley Low Church 6 85.84x
Chipping Barnet 5 145.77x
Inverkip 5 96.15x
Cramond 4 138.41x
Holy Trinity 4 5.89x
Kyloe 4 408.16x
St Marylebone London 4 2.63x
Tweedmouth 4 75.76x
Westoe 4 8.33x
Ancroft 3 201.34x
Gateshead 3 4.73x
Greenlaw 3 245.90x
Heriot 3 714.29x
Horncliffe 3 882.35x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 11.85x
Newington 3 2.85x
Polworth 3 1363.64x
Southwark St Saviour 3 20.49x
Westruther 3 454.55x
Hackney London 2 1.25x
Hawick 2 17.32x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 9.10x
Norham 2 212.77x
Urr 2 37.31x
Ancrum 1 74.63x
Ashburton 1 35.34x
Coldstream 1 40.00x
Duddingston 1 13.05x
Eddleston 1 142.86x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 13.32x
Gordon 1 121.95x
Heworth 1 5.99x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 19.88x
Lesbury 1 106.38x
Newlands 1 125.00x
Penrith 1 11.04x
Selkirk 1 13.77x
Wemyss 1 14.03x
Westgate 1 3.81x
Windle 1 5.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Isabella 9
Margaret 8
Mary 8
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Sarah 5
Ann 3
Alison 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Elizbeth 2
Hannah 2
Barbara 1
Caroline 1
Elenor 1
Ellen 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Williamina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
James 8
William 7
Thomas 6
Robert 5
Andrew 3
George 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Aaron 2
Alexander 2
Nichol 2
Nicholas 2
Richard 2
Adam 1
Edward 1
Jas. 1
Martin 1
Ninian 1
Peter 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Weatherston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weatherston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 301 people were recorded with the Weatherston surname. That placed it at #9,694 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weatherston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016. That gives Weatherston a modern rank of #13,189.

What does the Weatherston surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a location meaning "stormy town" or "windy town".

What does the Weatherston map show?

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