NameCensus.

UK surname

Wedderburn

An English habitational name from any of several places called Wedderburn.

In the 1881 census there were 248 people recorded with the Wedderburn surname, ranking it #11,140 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 780, ranked #7,067, up from #11,140 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterhead Links, North Tyneside and Muirhouse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wedderburn is 787 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 214.5%.

1881 census count

248

Ranked #11,140

Modern count

780

2016, ranked #7,067

Peak year

2014

787 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wedderburn had 248 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,140 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 780 in 2016, ranked #7,067.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 333 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Wedderburn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wedderburn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wedderburn 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 140 #13,593
1861 historical 131 #17,052
1881 historical 248 #11,140
1891 historical 302 #11,058
1901 historical 333 #10,843
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 639 #7,763
1998 modern 637 #8,026
1999 modern 668 #7,781
2000 modern 650 #7,936
2001 modern 646 #7,837
2002 modern 663 #7,826
2003 modern 633 #7,986
2004 modern 635 #7,972
2005 modern 669 #7,613
2006 modern 689 #7,457
2007 modern 697 #7,441
2008 modern 713 #7,373
2009 modern 719 #7,484
2010 modern 756 #7,340
2011 modern 749 #7,316
2012 modern 732 #7,365
2013 modern 769 #7,199
2014 modern 787 #7,102
2015 modern 786 #7,040
2016 modern 780 #7,067

Geography

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Where Wedderburns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft, St Giles Camberwell and Turriff. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterhead Links, North Tyneside, Muirhouse, Haringey and Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge. 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 3
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft Northumberland
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 Turriff Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterhead Links Aberdeenshire
2 North Tyneside 026 North Tyneside
3 Muirhouse City of Edinburgh
4 Haringey 001 Haringey
5 Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wedderburn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wedderburn

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Wedderburn is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Wedderburn is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Wedderburn

The surname Wedderburn has its origins in Scotland, originating from the parish of the same name in Berwickshire. The name is derived from the Old English words 'wether', meaning a male sheep or ram, and 'burna', meaning a stream or brook. Thus, the name Wedderburn likely refers to a stream or brook where rams or sheep were kept.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the 12th century, when a William de Wedderburn was mentioned in a charter granted by King William the Lion of Scotland. The name appears in various spellings throughout historical records, such as Wedderburne, Wedderbrun, and Wetherbyrne.

In the 13th century, a Sir David de Wederburn was a prominent figure and is mentioned in several charters and records of the time. He held lands in Berwickshire and was a vassal of the Earl of Dunbar.

The Wedderburn family had a long and distinguished history in Scotland, with several members holding important positions in the Scottish government and military. One notable figure was Sir Peter Wedderburn (1558-1628), who served as Lord Clerk Register of Scotland and was a member of the Privy Council.

Another prominent member of the family was Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Earl of Rosslyn (1733-1805), a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain from 1793 to 1801. He was instrumental in the passage of several important legal reforms during his tenure.

In the literary world, James Wedderburn (1495-1553) was a Scottish poet and reformer who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. He is best known for his translation of several of Martin Luther's works into Scots.

The name Wedderburn has also been associated with several notable figures in the military. Sir John Wedderburn (1599-1668) was a Scottish soldier and commander who served in the Thirty Years' War and the English Civil War. He was knighted for his service to King Charles I.

While the surname Wedderburn is primarily associated with Scotland, it has also been found in other parts of the United Kingdom and abroad, likely due to migration and the dispersal of family members over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wedderburn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wedderburn 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 82 Wedderburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.78x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 82 22.78x
Aberdeenshire 57 25.44x
Midlothian 27 8.33x
Surrey 21 1.78x
Middlesex 15 0.62x
Angus 8 3.57x
Kent 8 0.97x
Fife 7 4.89x
Perthshire 5 4.60x
Sussex 4 0.98x
Berkshire 3 1.65x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Yorkshire 2 0.08x
Argyllshire 1 1.49x
Cumberland 1 0.48x
Durham 1 0.14x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Lanarkshire 1 0.13x
Nairnshire 1 13.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elswick in Northumberland leads with 21 Wedderburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.09x.

Place Total Index
Elswick 21 73.09x
Camberwell 18 11.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 13.80x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 12 28.63x
Newcastle On Tyne St 11 58.95x
Byker 9 50.59x
Horncliffe 9 3103.45x
Forfar 8 65.90x
Balmerino 7 1272.73x
Greenwich 7 18.18x
Longside 7 261.19x
Loan End 6 5000.00x
Methlick 6 335.20x
Peterhead 6 50.63x
Berwick Upon Tweed 5 65.53x
New Deer 5 123.15x
Shoreswood 5 2380.95x
Turriff 5 138.12x
West Calder 5 78.25x
Brighton 4 4.86x
Cramlington 4 84.03x
Cruden 4 138.41x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 62.70x
Fyvie 4 109.29x
Islington London 4 1.71x
Pegswood 4 493.83x
Aberdeen Old Machar 3 6.41x
Ellon 3 97.40x
Mason 3 365.85x
Rattray 3 118.58x
Sandleford 3 10000.00x
St Marylebone London 3 2.32x
St Pancras London 3 1.54x
Battersea 2 2.25x
Kensington London 2 1.49x
Madderty 2 454.55x
Ulverston 2 23.92x
Adderstone 1 434.78x
Barony 1 0.51x
Caldewgate 1 8.76x
Culsalmond 1 144.93x
Gateshead 1 1.86x
Giggleswick 1 123.46x
Hampstead London 1 2.65x
Jesmond 1 19.76x
Kilmallie 1 28.90x
King Edward 1 38.76x
Lambeth 1 0.47x
Longbenton 1 6.56x
Longhurst 1 142.86x
Nairn 1 22.32x
Nether Hallam 1 3.08x
Portsea 1 1.03x
St George Hanover 1 3.17x
St Luke London 1 2.58x
West Derby 1 1.19x
Westgate 1 4.49x
Woolwich 1 3.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 10
James 8
Robert 7
Henry 6
Thomas 6
William 6
David 4
George 3
Jabez 3
Alexander 2
Edward 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gaul 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Matthew 1
Robt. 1
Robt.E. 1

FAQ

Wedderburn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wedderburn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 248 people were recorded with the Wedderburn surname. That placed it at #11,140 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wedderburn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 780 in 2016. That gives Wedderburn a modern rank of #7,067.

What does the Wedderburn surname mean?

An English habitational name from any of several places called Wedderburn.

What does the Wedderburn map show?

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