NameCensus.

UK surname

Weaving

An occupational surname derived from the profession of weaving cloth or textiles.

In the 1881 census there were 355 people recorded with the Weaving surname, ranking it #8,679 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 714, ranked #7,599, up from #8,679 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Stroud and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weaving is 778 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 101.1%.

1881 census count

355

Ranked #8,679

Modern count

714

2016, ranked #7,599

Peak year

2002

778 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weaving had 355 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,679 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016, ranked #7,599.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 653 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Weaving surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weaving surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weaving 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 236 #9,174
1861 historical 241 #10,192
1881 historical 355 #8,679
1891 historical 458 #7,974
1901 historical 612 #6,963
1911 historical 653 #6,424
1997 modern 720 #7,082
1998 modern 753 #7,075
1999 modern 756 #7,105
2000 modern 759 #7,038
2001 modern 752 #6,973
2002 modern 778 #6,933
2003 modern 762 #6,921
2004 modern 767 #6,908
2005 modern 744 #7,006
2006 modern 733 #7,113
2007 modern 725 #7,247
2008 modern 726 #7,279
2009 modern 728 #7,407
2010 modern 741 #7,439
2011 modern 739 #7,396
2012 modern 720 #7,452
2013 modern 731 #7,485
2014 modern 725 #7,571
2015 modern 724 #7,527
2016 modern 714 #7,599

Geography

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Where Weavings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Stroud, Amber Valley and Cornwall. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
2 Stroud 006 Stroud
3 Amber Valley 009 Amber Valley
4 Stroud 004 Stroud
5 Cornwall 006 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weaving

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weaving

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

Weaving 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

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

Meaning and origin of Weaving

The surname "Weaving" is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old English word "wefan," meaning "to weave." The name was likely given to those who worked as weavers or were involved in the textile industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166, where a person named Richard le Wevere is mentioned. This early spelling variation, "Wevere," highlights the occupational nature of the name.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the Curia Regis Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1205, where a person named William le Wevere is listed. The use of the French prefix "le" before the occupational term was common during the Norman period in England.

In the 13th century, the name "Weaving" appeared in various forms, such as "Wevyng" and "Wevinge," as evidenced by the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Hugh Wevyng is recorded.

One of the notable individuals with the surname "Weaving" was Robert Weaving, a 16th-century English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Doncaster. He was born around 1540 and died in 1616.

Another significant figure was John Weaving, an English Puritan minister and religious writer who lived from 1575 to 1630. He served as the rector of St. Michael's Church in Coventry and was known for his religious works, including "Antidote against the Poyson of Hereticall and Blasphemous Sectaries" (1622).

In the 17th century, a notable individual named Thomas Weaving, born around 1620, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, representing Lancaster County. He played a role in the colonial government of Virginia during that time.

Moving forward, Elizabeth Weaving, born in 1694, was a notable figure from Derbyshire, England. She was known for her involvement in the local community and her philanthropic efforts.

Finally, John Weaving, born in 1789 in Lancashire, England, was a renowned mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the fields of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weaving families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weaving 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. Gloucestershire leads with 147 Weavings recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.64x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 147 21.64x
Middlesex 44 1.27x
Berkshire 40 15.39x
Shropshire 26 8.69x
Somerset 19 3.41x
Oxfordshire 12 5.61x
Yorkshire 12 0.35x
Derbyshire 10 1.84x
Worcestershire 10 2.21x
Herefordshire 7 4.93x
Surrey 7 0.41x
Hampshire 5 0.70x
Kent 5 0.42x
Warwickshire 5 0.57x
Glamorgan 2 0.33x
Monmouthshire 2 0.80x
Leicestershire 1 0.26x
Wiltshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheltenham in Gloucestershire leads with 14 Weavings recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.72x.

Place Total Index
Cheltenham 14 26.72x
Drayton In Hales 13 210.70x
Wellington 13 77.33x
Stroud 12 90.77x
East West Challow 11 1641.79x
Westbury On Severn East 11 71.66x
Ampney St Mary 9 6000.00x
Bourton On The Water 9 652.17x
Rodborough 9 274.39x
Coberley 8 2051.28x
Painswick 8 166.67x
Walcot 8 26.95x
Coln St Aldwins 7 1320.75x
Derby St Werburgh 7 22.36x
Cropthorne 6 714.29x
Isleworth 6 38.96x
Little Dean 6 612.24x
North Cadbury 6 560.75x
Abingdon St Nicholas 5 694.44x
Acton 5 24.63x
Appleton 5 735.29x
Cirencester 5 54.35x
Cumnor 5 416.67x
Newnham 5 287.36x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 5 40.78x
Quenington 5 1111.11x
St George Hanover 5 11.06x
St Helens 5 96.90x
Tewkesbury 5 82.51x
Winstone 5 1851.85x
Abingdon St Helen 4 52.63x
Birmingham 4 1.37x
Chelsea London 4 3.83x
Frome 4 30.01x
Kensington London 4 2.08x
Newington 4 3.13x
Ormesby 4 43.38x
Sherborne 4 588.24x
St Marylebone London 4 2.16x
Deptford St Paul 3 3.29x
Dudley 3 5.46x
Elklstone 3 1071.43x
Gloucester St Catherine 3 157.07x
Hammersmith London 3 3.52x
Hawling 3 1666.67x
Hollington 3 1111.11x
Oxford St Martin 3 857.14x
Paddington London 3 2.36x
Pembridge 3 191.08x
Duntisbourne Abbotts 2 588.24x
Fyfield 2 500.00x
Hatherop 2 487.80x
Hereford All Sts 2 30.72x
Holy Trinity 2 2.42x
Lambeth 2 0.66x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 2 78.74x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 2 188.68x
Oxford St Thomas 2 20.04x
St Pancras London 2 0.72x
Welford 2 178.57x
Westminster St 2 15.66x
Avening 1 41.67x
Bishops Cleeve 1 58.14x
Brimpsfield 1 227.27x
Cardiff St John 1 5.08x
Coln St Dennis 1 434.78x
Drayton 1 135.14x
Fulham London 1 1.99x
Islington London 1 0.30x
Kemble 1 175.44x
Llantwit Vairdre 1 14.75x
New Windsor 1 11.44x
Oxford St Giles 1 9.80x
Preston 1 312.50x
Skircoat 1 7.39x
Sparsholt 1 192.31x
Tottenham 1 1.81x
Trevethin 1 4.23x
White Waltham 1 103.09x
Yanworth 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 18
Emma 11
Alice 10
Ann 10
Sarah 10
Martha 8
Emily 7
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Amy 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
E.A. 2
Elisabeth 2
Georgiana 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Hester 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Chalotte 1
Clara 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Felecitus 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Hilda 1
Ivey 1
Jessie 1
Joseph 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucretia 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Madeline 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Weaving 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 14
Henry 13
Thomas 12
James 11
Albert 7
Charles 7
Alfred 6
Frederick 5
Joseph 5
Walter 5
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Francis 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Samuel 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Adolphus 1
Anthony 1
Auther 1
Basil 1
Claude 1
Danl. 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
G.H. 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
J.E. 1
Jesse 1
Jonah 1
Maurice 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Rupert 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
T.W. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Weaving surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weaving surname in 1881?

In 1881, 355 people were recorded with the Weaving surname. That placed it at #8,679 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weaving surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016. That gives Weaving a modern rank of #7,599.

What does the Weaving surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the profession of weaving cloth or textiles.

What does the Weaving map show?

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