NameCensus.

UK surname

Webley

An English surname derived from a place name, potentially referring to someone from Webley in Herefordshire or Devonshire.

In the 1881 census there were 623 people recorded with the Webley surname, ranking it #5,674 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,102, ranked #5,336, up from #5,674 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Mangotsfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Blaenau Gwent and Bromsgrove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Webley is 1,177 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 76.9%.

1881 census count

623

Ranked #5,674

Modern count

1,102

2016, ranked #5,336

Peak year

2000

1,177 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Webley had 623 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,674 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,102 in 2016, ranked #5,336.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 986 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Webley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Webley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Webley 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 365 #6,492
1861 historical 281 #8,921
1881 historical 623 #5,674
1891 historical 677 #5,767
1901 historical 905 #5,127
1911 historical 986 #4,595
1997 modern 1,136 #4,937
1998 modern 1,171 #4,980
1999 modern 1,155 #5,093
2000 modern 1,177 #4,988
2001 modern 1,128 #5,065
2002 modern 1,117 #5,218
2003 modern 1,128 #5,071
2004 modern 1,113 #5,135
2005 modern 1,118 #5,070
2006 modern 1,109 #5,108
2007 modern 1,123 #5,093
2008 modern 1,140 #5,061
2009 modern 1,168 #5,059
2010 modern 1,176 #5,129
2011 modern 1,144 #5,203
2012 modern 1,126 #5,185
2013 modern 1,133 #5,239
2014 modern 1,136 #5,261
2015 modern 1,114 #5,304
2016 modern 1,102 #5,336

Geography

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Where Webleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Mangotsfield and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Blaenau Gwent, Bromsgrove and Caerphilly. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Mangotsfield Somerset
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 003 Cotswold
2 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent
3 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent
4 Bromsgrove 010 Bromsgrove
5 Caerphilly 006 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Webley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Webley

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Webley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Webley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Webley falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Webley

The surname Webley is of English origin and is thought to have derived from a place name in the county of Worcestershire, England. The earliest known spelling of the name was Webbeleye, which is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "webb" meaning a weaver, and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow.

The name is believed to have first emerged in the 11th century, and one of the earliest recorded instances of the name was in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as Webbeleie. This suggests that the name was in use during the Norman conquest of England in the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded as Webbeleg and Webbeleye in various historical records and documents from the county of Worcestershire. This indicates that the name was well-established in this region during this time period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Webley was Sir Thomas Webley, who was born in 1450 in Worcestershire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for the county in the late 15th century.

Another notable figure with this surname was John Webley, who was born in 1590 in Worcestershire. He was a successful merchant and was involved in the trade of textiles and wool, which was a significant industry in the region at the time.

In the 17th century, the name was also recorded in the nearby county of Herefordshire, where it was spelled as Webbley or Webley. One notable bearer of the name from this region was William Webley, who was born in 1625 and was a successful farmer and landowner.

In the late 18th century, the name gained some prominence with the rise of Philip Webley, who was born in 1786 in Birmingham, England. He was a renowned gunsmith and founded the Webley & Scott firearms company, which became famous for its production of revolvers and other firearms.

Another notable figure with the surname Webley was Sir Walter Webley, who was born in 1837 in Worcestershire. He was a prominent politician and served as a Member of Parliament for several years in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Webley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Webley 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 210 Webleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.62x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 210 17.62x
Worcestershire 93 11.72x
Somerset 65 6.64x
Oxfordshire 47 12.52x
Middlesex 31 0.51x
Warwickshire 24 1.57x
Wiltshire 19 3.54x
Yorkshire 16 0.27x
Glamorgan 14 1.32x
Sussex 14 1.37x
Surrey 12 0.41x
Monmouthshire 10 2.28x
Derbyshire 8 0.84x
Essex 8 0.67x
Herefordshire 8 3.21x
Kent 8 0.39x
Staffordshire 8 0.39x
Durham 7 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.09x
Devon 3 0.24x
Northamptonshire 3 0.52x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Leicestershire 2 0.30x
Lincolnshire 2 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.24x
Denbighshire 1 0.44x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Westmorland 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromsgrove in Worcestershire leads with 64 Webleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 239.61x.

Place Total Index
Bromsgrove 64 239.61x
Frome 36 153.85x
Mangotsfield 26 218.86x
Dymock 23 809.86x
Cheltenham 21 22.84x
Stow On The Wold 14 528.30x
Westbury On Trym 14 34.67x
Beckington 12 621.76x
Combe 12 1061.95x
Bitton 11 106.08x
Bristol St James St Paul 11 27.68x
Trowbridge 11 46.30x
Bristol St Michael 10 97.85x
Clifton 10 16.59x
Henbury 10 171.82x
Woodstock 10 423.73x
Birmingham 9 1.76x
Coedfrank 9 122.78x
Ifield 9 210.77x
St Marylebone London 9 2.77x
Aston 8 1.90x
Dudley 8 8.29x
Aberystruth 7 18.07x
Bilston 7 17.61x
Coxhoe 7 136.45x
Minchinhampton 7 73.68x
Bitton Oldland 6 49.26x
Donnington 6 3157.89x
Great Barrington 6 638.30x
High Laver 6 606.06x
Keynsham 6 85.47x
Redmarley 6 288.46x
Wick Rissington 6 1714.29x
Brislington 5 274.73x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 4.46x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.49x
Croydon 5 3.04x
Kingham 5 387.60x
Shoreditch London 5 1.90x
Bradford On Avon 4 23.24x
Brighton 4 1.94x
Castleford 4 18.24x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.50x
Eckington 4 17.31x
Edgbaston 4 8.42x
Gt Rollright 4 493.83x
Little Rissington 4 833.33x
Normanton 4 22.10x
Salford 4 506.33x
Sherborne 4 336.13x
Staveley 4 23.68x
Taynton 4 579.71x
Todenham 4 597.01x
Wootton 4 177.78x
Wycombe 4 14.60x
Bristol St James In 3 17.11x
Bristol St Paul In 3 9.45x
Doncaster 3 6.82x
Guisbrough 3 22.80x
Hammersmith London 3 2.00x
Leamington Priors 3 7.96x
Peterborough 3 7.25x
St Gilesin Fields 3 84.75x
Westerleigh 3 112.36x
Worcester St Martin 3 28.01x
Aylestone 2 37.66x
Bedwellty 2 2.58x
Berkley 2 298.51x
Bromsberrow 2 357.14x
Chipping Norton 2 23.04x
Dover St Mary Virgin 2 9.97x
East Pennard 2 157.48x
Grantham 2 15.80x
Islington London 2 0.34x
Newent 2 33.00x
Northfield 2 13.28x
Settle 2 43.38x
Titley 2 243.90x
Worcester St Peter 2 13.32x
Yardley 2 9.85x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 35
William 31
John 21
James 17
Thomas 17
Arthur 14
Frank 13
Henry 13
Alfred 12
Charles 12
Albert 9
Edward 9
Frederick 9
Samuel 7
Jabez 5
Philip 5
Ernest 4
Isaac 4
Wm. 4
Aaron 3
Abraham 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Abram 2
Edmund 2
Frederic 2
Job 2
Robert 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
W. 2
Ambrose 1
Bertram 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Eber 1
Fredc. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.W. 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Luther 1
Moses 1
Worthy 1

FAQ

Webley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Webley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 623 people were recorded with the Webley surname. That placed it at #5,674 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Webley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,102 in 2016. That gives Webley a modern rank of #5,336.

What does the Webley surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, potentially referring to someone from Webley in Herefordshire or Devonshire.

What does the Webley map show?

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