NameCensus.

UK surname

Webbe

An occupational surname derived from the Old English "webbe" meaning weaver or webster.

In the 1881 census there were 221 people recorded with the Webbe surname, ranking it #12,049 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 260, ranked #16,349, down from #12,049 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Aston-on-Trent and Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Neath Port Talbot and Newport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Webbe is 264 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.6%.

1881 census count

221

Ranked #12,049

Modern count

260

2016, ranked #16,349

Peak year

2014

264 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Webbe had 221 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,049 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016, ranked #16,349.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 227 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Webbe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Webbe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Webbe 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 139 #13,659
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 221 #12,049
1891 historical 227 #13,629
1901 historical 185 #15,892
1911 historical 156 #17,421
1997 modern 218 #16,704
1998 modern 217 #17,207
1999 modern 218 #17,258
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 210 #17,425
2002 modern 228 #16,828
2003 modern 219 #17,085
2004 modern 227 #16,778
2005 modern 241 #16,036
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 248 #15,994
2008 modern 247 #16,205
2009 modern 245 #16,646
2010 modern 260 #16,343
2011 modern 252 #16,543
2012 modern 251 #16,467
2013 modern 262 #16,273
2014 modern 264 #16,288
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 260 #16,349

Geography

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Where Webbes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Aston-on-Trent, Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Burnley and St Edmundsbury. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Aston-on-Trent Derbyshire
3 Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock Shropshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 024 Manchester
2 Neath Port Talbot 018 Neath Port Talbot
3 Newport 018 Newport
4 Burnley 011 Burnley
5 St Edmundsbury 013 St Edmundsbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Webbe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Webbe

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Webbe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Webbe 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Webbe is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Webbe is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Webbe

The surname Webbe originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "webbere," which means "weaver" and refers to someone who wove fabric or cloth. This occupation was a significant trade during that era, and surnames were often derived from the bearer's profession.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Webbe can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from the year 1279, where it is listed as "William le Webbe." The use of the prefix "le" or "the" before surnames was common practice during that time, indicating the bearer's occupation or place of origin.

The name Webbe appears in various spellings throughout historical records, such as Webb, Webbe, and Webber. These variations reflect the lack of standardized spelling conventions during the Middle Ages and the influence of regional dialects.

One notable historical figure associated with the surname is John Webbe, a 16th-century English dramatist and poet who lived from around 1558 to 1625. His best-known work is the comedy "The Oldest Comedy in the English Language," which is believed to have been written between 1592 and 1595.

Another prominent individual with the surname Webbe was John Webbe, an English author and publisher who lived from 1576 to 1633. He is known for his work "A Book of Travels and Lyes," which was published in 1616 and satirized the travel literature of the time.

In the 17th century, Samuel Webbe, an English composer and organist, made significant contributions to the field of music. He lived from 1740 to 1816 and is particularly renowned for his glees, which were a form of unaccompanied vocal music popular during his time.

During the 19th century, William Webbe, an English landscape painter, gained recognition for his depictions of rural scenes and landscapes. He was born in 1826 and lived until 1904, exhibiting his works at the Royal Academy and other prestigious institutions.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Charles Webbe, a British politician and Member of Parliament who lived from 1824 to 1901. He served as a Conservative MP for various constituencies, including Honiton and West Somerset, during the latter half of the 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Webbe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Webbe 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. Surrey leads with 32 Webbes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.05x.

County Total Index
Surrey 32 3.05x
Middlesex 28 1.30x
Lancashire 26 1.02x
Derbyshire 23 6.82x
Staffordshire 14 1.92x
Suffolk 12 4.57x
Yorkshire 12 0.56x
Kent 11 1.50x
Shropshire 11 5.91x
Essex 7 1.65x
Sussex 7 1.93x
Oxfordshire 6 4.51x
Lanarkshire 5 0.72x
Durham 4 0.62x
Gloucestershire 4 0.95x
Worcestershire 3 1.07x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.46x
Devon 2 0.45x
Norfolk 2 0.60x
Wiltshire 2 1.05x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.77x
Fife 1 0.78x
Glamorgan 1 0.27x
Hampshire 1 0.23x
Hertfordshire 1 0.67x
Midlothian 1 0.35x
Monmouthshire 1 0.64x
Sutherland 1 6.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 14 Webbes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.17x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 14 10.17x
Hartington Upper 14 869.57x
Burslem 11 52.78x
Cheswardine 11 1392.41x
Tankersley 10 628.93x
Staplehurst 9 743.80x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 19.69x
Lambeth 8 4.26x
Liverpool 8 5.15x
Brighton 7 9.55x
Chapel En Le Frith 6 194.81x
Drayton 6 1818.18x
Paddington London 6 7.57x
West Ham 6 6.39x
Barony 5 2.83x
Exning 5 375.94x
Mile End Old Town 5 14.69x
St Anne Soho London 5 40.62x
Accrington 4 17.20x
Darlington 4 16.16x
Newington 4 5.02x
Westbury On Severn East 4 41.84x
Earl Soham 3 666.67x
Everton 3 3.68x
St Katherine Coleman 3 1428.57x
St Pancras London 3 1.73x
Stutton 3 750.00x
Bermondsey 2 3.12x
Bromham 2 232.56x
Chaddesley Corbett 2 188.68x
Derby St Werburgh 2 10.26x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 2 33.61x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 20.10x
Norton In Moors 2 51.95x
Aldershot 1 6.76x
Battersea 1 1.26x
Bideford 1 20.79x
Botesdale 1 243.90x
Chalfont St Peter 1 93.46x
Clapham 1 3.71x
Colchester St Mary At 1 66.23x
Dalton In Huddersfield 1 20.88x
Dunfermline 1 5.10x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 14.64x
Exeter St David 1 26.11x
Farr 1 69.93x
Hammersmith London 1 1.88x
Hampstead London 1 2.98x
Isleworth 1 10.44x
Leeds 1 0.83x
Lewisham 1 2.55x
Litchurch 1 7.36x
Little Woolton 1 135.14x
Minster In Sheppey 1 8.21x
Newport 1 13.46x
Oldbury 1 7.22x
Oldham 1 1.21x
Reigate Foreign 1 8.80x
Roath 1 5.87x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.31x
St Marylebone London 1 0.87x
Stretford 1 7.11x
Tottenham 1 2.91x
Ware 1 23.47x
Whitechapel London 1 4.71x
Yarlett 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 8
Annie 7
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Charlotte 5
Fanny 5
Ann 4
Emma 4
Edith 3
Esther 3
Harriet 3
Martha 3
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Minnie 2
Agenoria 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Elfrida 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Fanney 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Kezia 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margeret 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Sabre 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 10
George 9
Charles 8
Albert 7
Henry 6
James 5
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Nelson 3
Samuel 3
David 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Leonard 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Alfred 1
Amhurst 1
Chas.Saml. 1
Claude 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo 1
Infant 1
Joseph 1
Lovatt 1
Philip 1
Soloman 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Webbe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Webbe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 221 people were recorded with the Webbe surname. That placed it at #12,049 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Webbe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016. That gives Webbe a modern rank of #16,349.

What does the Webbe surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English "webbe" meaning weaver or webster.

What does the Webbe map show?

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