NameCensus.

UK surname

Webber

An occupational surname referring to a weaver of cloth.

In the 1881 census there were 9,057 people recorded with the Webber surname, ranking it #465 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10,925, ranked #588, down from #465 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Exeter St David (including Castle Yard). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, Mid Devon and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Webber is 12,007 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.6%.

1881 census count

9,057

Ranked #465

Modern count

10,925

2016, ranked #588

Peak year

1911

12,007 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Webber had 9,057 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #465 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 10,925 in 2016, ranked #588.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12,007 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Webber surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Webber surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Webber 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 5,918 #467
1861 historical 5,663 #487
1881 historical 9,057 #465
1891 historical 9,666 #460
1901 historical 10,876 #480
1911 historical 12,007 #410
1997 modern 11,150 #550
1998 modern 11,579 #549
1999 modern 11,701 #547
2000 modern 11,714 #544
2001 modern 11,286 #552
2002 modern 11,412 #561
2003 modern 11,104 #558
2004 modern 11,094 #560
2005 modern 10,957 #560
2006 modern 10,913 #565
2007 modern 10,959 #570
2008 modern 10,965 #574
2009 modern 11,191 #577
2010 modern 11,377 #580
2011 modern 11,295 #576
2012 modern 10,950 #583
2013 modern 11,103 #586
2014 modern 11,157 #588
2015 modern 11,010 #587
2016 modern 10,925 #588

Geography

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Where Webbers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, Mid Devon and North Devon. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 005 West Somerset
2 West Somerset 001 West Somerset
3 Mid Devon 002 Mid Devon
4 North Devon 013 North Devon
5 West Somerset 004 West Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Webber

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Webber

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

Webber is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Webber falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Webber

The surname Webber is of English origin, dating back to the 12th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "webbere," meaning a weaver of cloth or tapestries. This occupation was highly skilled and respected during the Middle Ages.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest recorded use of the name appears as "Webbere" in Norfolk, England. The name was also documented in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, where it was spelled "Webbur."

The Webber surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire in the southwest of England. Many early bearers of the name lived in small villages and towns, working as weavers and contributing to the local textile industry.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Webber surname was John Webber, a merchant from Bristol, who lived in the 14th century. Another notable figure was William Webber, a clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Ripon Cathedral in the late 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Webber family established themselves in various parts of England. Sir John Webber (1551-1619) was a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer. Thomas Webber (1573-1635) was a renowned playwright and author who wrote several plays, including "The White Devil" and "The Duchess of Malfi."

In the 18th century, John Webber (1751-1793) was a renowned artist and draughtsman who accompanied Captain James Cook on his third voyage to the Pacific Ocean. His detailed drawings and paintings of the places and people they encountered were highly influential in documenting this historic expedition.

Another notable Webber was Samuel Webber (1759-1826), a British naval officer and explorer who surveyed the coastlines of Australia and New Zealand in the late 18th century. His contributions helped expand the knowledge of these regions during the age of exploration.

The Webber surname has been carried by many individuals throughout history, reflecting its long-standing tradition as an occupational name associated with the skilled craft of weaving.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Webber families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Webber 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. Devon leads with 2,460 Webbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.24x.

County Total Index
Devon 2,460 13.24x
Somerset 1,376 9.58x
Middlesex 984 1.10x
Surrey 541 1.24x
Cornwall 534 5.28x
Gloucestershire 476 2.72x
Glamorgan 407 2.62x
Essex 271 1.54x
Kent 253 0.83x
Hampshire 221 1.21x
Dorset 192 3.28x
Lancashire 162 0.15x
Sussex 153 1.02x
Yorkshire 124 0.14x
Suffolk 112 1.03x
Monmouthshire 111 1.72x
Channel Islands 77 2.91x
Cambridgeshire 65 1.15x
Berkshire 62 0.93x
Durham 54 0.20x
Worcestershire 50 0.43x
Warwickshire 48 0.21x
Wiltshire 43 0.54x
Norfolk 39 0.28x
Staffordshire 31 0.10x
Hertfordshire 28 0.46x
Royal Navy 28 2.63x
Derbyshire 27 0.19x
Cheshire 23 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 22 0.18x
Bedfordshire 19 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 16 0.30x
Lincolnshire 15 0.11x
Midlothian 13 0.11x
Northamptonshire 13 0.15x
Northumberland 13 0.10x
Brecknockshire 12 0.67x
Leicestershire 11 0.11x
Angus 8 0.10x
Herefordshire 8 0.22x
Oxfordshire 8 0.15x
Carmarthenshire 7 0.19x
Cumberland 7 0.09x
Fife 7 0.13x
Shropshire 4 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.17x
Roxburghshire 3 0.19x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.07x
Renfrewshire 2 0.03x
Ayrshire 1 0.02x
Denbighshire 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 97 Webbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.18x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 97 7.18x
Tormoham 91 11.58x
Lambeth 88 1.13x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 86 5.22x
Wiveliscombe 86 107.39x
Islington London 83 0.96x
St Marylebone London 83 1.74x
Stoke Damerel 79 6.08x
Chulmleigh 74 174.86x
Paignton 74 52.34x
Kensington London 73 1.47x
Exeter St Sidwell 72 16.92x
Bristol St George 70 8.65x
Bridgewater 66 16.92x
Taunton St Mary 66 25.02x
Plymouth St Andrew 65 4.54x
Roath 64 9.07x
St Pancras London 63 0.88x
Tiverton 62 19.37x
Battersea 59 1.80x
Isleham 58 111.80x
Shoreditch London 58 1.50x
Wellington 57 29.26x
Wolborough 56 23.84x
Plymouth Charles The 53 6.48x
Falmouth 52 14.54x
Portsea 51 1.42x
Mile End Old Town 50 3.55x
Woolwich 50 4.44x
Barnstaple 49 16.80x
Cardiff St Mary 47 5.49x
Kea 46 61.08x
Camberwell 43 0.75x
Bermondsey 42 1.58x
North Petherton 41 35.38x
Plympton Maurice 41 116.78x
West Ham 41 1.05x
Bristol St Paul In 40 8.58x
Chelsea London 40 1.49x
Newington 40 1.21x
Walcot 40 5.23x
Clifton 37 4.18x
Greenwich 37 2.60x
Paddington London 37 1.13x
Chawleigh 36 175.61x
Deptford St Paul 36 1.53x
St Decumans Watchet 36 99.01x
Swansea Town 36 2.83x
Bethnal Green London 35 0.90x
Exeter St David 35 22.05x
Southwark St George Martyr 35 1.95x
Burrington 34 143.76x
Staverton 34 148.99x
Taunton St James 34 16.23x
Willesden 34 4.04x
Brighton 33 1.09x
Crewkerne 33 21.63x
East Stonehouse 33 9.02x
Timberscombe 33 277.54x
St George In East 32 5.27x
Bristol St James St Paul 31 5.31x
Brixham 31 14.40x
Bromley London 31 1.58x
East Budleigh 31 35.41x
Mark 31 92.48x
St Austell 31 8.97x
St Peter Port 31 6.34x
Chard 30 17.24x
Exeter Heavitree 29 20.93x
Fulham London 28 2.16x
Kenwyn 28 10.60x
Royal Navy 28 3.08x
Southampton St Mary 28 2.43x
Worth 28 25.63x
Chittlehampton 27 58.91x
Exeter St Thomas The 27 14.26x
Merthyr Tydfil 27 1.81x
Reading St Giles 27 4.11x
Stalbridge 27 48.50x
Ilfracombe 26 13.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 643
Elizabeth 419
Sarah 288
Ann 176
Jane 168
Emma 162
Eliza 153
Ellen 139
Annie 120
Emily 116
Alice 107
Louisa 92
Florence 70
Susan 68
Caroline 67
Fanny 64
Charlotte 60
Kate 59
Bessie 56
Harriet 56
Hannah 53
Edith 51
Maria 49
Lucy 47
Martha 45
Margaret 41
Frances 37
Ada 36
Amelia 34
Minnie 34
Jessie 33
Anne 30
Catherine 30
Rose 30
Clara 27
Matilda 25
Anna 23
Grace 22
Maud 22
Harriett 21
Beatrice 20
Rosa 18
Elizth. 17
Sophia 17
Amy 16
Eva 16
Helen 16
Laura 16
Selina 16
Gertrude 15

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 643
John 560
James 319
George 317
Thomas 221
Charles 214
Henry 211
Richard 126
Robert 116
Frederick 107
Samuel 95
Edward 89
Walter 88
Albert 84
Alfred 83
Joseph 71
Arthur 61
Harry 61
Frank 53
Edwin 45
Francis 45
Ernest 40
Wm. 39
Fred 22
Herbert 21
David 19
Geo. 16
Benjamin 15
Fredk. 14
Thos. 14
Tom 13
Frederic 12
Sidney 12
Mark 11
Stephen 11
Willie 11
Philip 10
Fredrick 9
Lewis 9
Percy 8
Sydney 8
Andrew 7
Edgar 7
Edmund 7
Peter 7
Horace 6
Jesse 6
Phillip 6
Saml. 6
Stanley 6

FAQ

Webber surname: questions and answers

How common was the Webber surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9,057 people were recorded with the Webber surname. That placed it at #465 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Webber surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 10,925 in 2016. That gives Webber a modern rank of #588.

What does the Webber surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a weaver of cloth.

What does the Webber map show?

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