NameCensus.

UK surname

Weddle

Derived from a place name meaning "weed hill" in Old English, likely referring to an area overgrown with weeds.

In the 1881 census there were 287 people recorded with the Weddle surname, ranking it #10,014 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 252, ranked #16,699, down from #10,014 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weddle is 361 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.2%.

1881 census count

287

Ranked #10,014

Modern count

252

2016, ranked #16,699

Peak year

1911

361 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weddle had 287 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,014 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016, ranked #16,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 361 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Weddle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weddle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weddle 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 163 #12,156
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 287 #10,014
1891 historical 308 #10,886
1901 historical 347 #10,500
1911 historical 361 #10,044
1997 modern 250 #15,281
1998 modern 259 #15,320
1999 modern 251 #15,751
2000 modern 252 #15,659
2001 modern 258 #15,194
2002 modern 268 #15,081
2003 modern 245 #15,822
2004 modern 239 #16,193
2005 modern 237 #16,244
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 245 #16,134
2008 modern 248 #16,163
2009 modern 252 #16,323
2010 modern 262 #16,252
2011 modern 263 #16,058
2012 modern 253 #16,377
2013 modern 249 #16,825
2014 modern 254 #16,726
2015 modern 247 #16,941
2016 modern 252 #16,699

Geography

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Where Weddles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints, Bishop Wearmouth and Jarrow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Jarrow Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 026 Gateshead
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 014 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Gateshead 021 Gateshead
4 Gateshead 023 Gateshead
5 Gateshead 003 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weddle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weddle

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Weddle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Weddle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Weddle is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Weddle is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Weddle falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Weddle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Weddle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Weddle

The surname Weddle has its origins in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It is derived from the Old English words "wed" meaning pledge or covenant, and "hill" referring to a hill or mound. The name likely originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a distinctive hill or mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wedhyll." This entry suggests that the name was already established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Weddle family held lands and estates in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. In the 13th century, records show a John de Wedhull who was a landowner in Cheshire.

By the 16th century, variations in the spelling of the name became more common, with forms like Wedale, Wedall, and Weddle emerging. This was partly due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

One notable individual with the Weddle surname was John Weddle (c. 1545-1599), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Weddle (1598-1661), a English politician and Member of Parliament for Liverpool during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the name Weddle was also found in Scotland, where it is believed to have been introduced by English settlers. A notable Scottish bearer of the name was Robert Weddle (1737-1799), a merchant and landowner from Fife.

As the Weddle family spread across England and into other parts of the British Isles, they contributed to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of their respective communities. Some of the places associated with the name include Weddle Hill in Northumberland and Weddle Brook in Derbyshire.

Other notable individuals with the Weddle surname include John Weddle (1784-1859), an English surveyor and cartographer, and Thomas Weddle (1823-1899), a British-born Australian politician and member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weddle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weddle 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. Durham leads with 110 Weddles recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.25x.

County Total Index
Durham 110 13.25x
Northumberland 94 22.65x
Yorkshire 27 0.98x
Middlesex 14 0.50x
Kent 12 1.26x
Sussex 6 1.28x
Cumberland 5 2.08x
Lancashire 5 0.15x
Surrey 5 0.37x
Cheshire 2 0.32x
Hampshire 2 0.35x
Renfrewshire 2 0.93x
Hertfordshire 1 0.52x
West Lothian 1 2.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 28 Weddles recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.06x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 28 45.06x
Lesbury 16 1739.13x
Bishopwearmouth 15 21.06x
Westoe 15 31.88x
Islington London 14 5.18x
St Giles 11 212.36x
Hawkhurst 10 337.84x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 27.82x
Wath On Dearne 9 163.04x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 32.27x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 8 146.52x
Pelton 8 202.53x
Alnham 7 5384.62x
Middlesbrough 7 19.44x
Ponteland 7 1627.91x
Byker 6 29.24x
Elford 6 7500.00x
Ford 6 394.74x
Salehurst 6 294.12x
Scarborough 5 19.90x
Seaham 5 165.02x
Sunderland 5 34.11x
Blacktoft Cheapsides 4 2666.67x
Caldewgate 4 30.40x
Dawdon 4 39.18x
Hauxley 4 430.11x
Heworth 4 24.46x
Hook Malden 4 740.74x
Kirkdale 4 7.18x
Hepburn 3 3000.00x
Kirkharle 3 2727.27x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 13.95x
Tweedmouth 3 58.03x
West Matfen 3 1000.00x
Berwick Upon Tweed 2 22.75x
Chester Le Street 2 31.40x
Heaton 2 144.93x
Paisley Low Church 2 29.24x
Tonbridge 2 5.83x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 2 36.50x
Bathgate 1 10.96x
Brandon Byshottles 1 9.62x
Cambo 1 1111.11x
Chirton 1 10.65x
Cramlington 1 18.25x
Doddington 1 344.83x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.78x
Great Bavington 1 2000.00x
Lambeth 1 0.41x
Low Holme 1 73.53x
Medomsley 1 25.84x
Morton Grange 1 526.32x
North Shields 1 12.08x
Richmond 1 23.15x
Salford 1 1.03x
St Faith Winchester 1 37.45x
Watford 1 6.71x
Weeke 1 57.80x
West Brunton 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 11
Jane 10
Margaret 10
Ann 9
Isabella 7
Annie 4
Eleanor 4
Sarah 4
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Alice 2
Barbara 2
Ellenor 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Abby 1
Agnas 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Christina 1
Clarinda 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ester 1
F. 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Heleanor 1
Helen 1
Ina 1
Janet 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Margarete 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Phillis 1
Rachel 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susana 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 28
William 23
Robert 17
Thomas 17
George 9
James 9
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Andrew 2
Edwin 2
Mark 2
Ralph 2
Richard 2
Adam 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
David 1
Dudley 1
Edwd. 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Geo.Hill 1
H. 1
H.Andrew 1
Harold 1
Hebbert 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Nathaniel 1
Roland 1
Samuel 1
Thoms. 1
Thos.Hy.D. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Weddle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weddle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 287 people were recorded with the Weddle surname. That placed it at #10,014 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weddle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016. That gives Weddle a modern rank of #16,699.

What does the Weddle surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "weed hill" in Old English, likely referring to an area overgrown with weeds.

What does the Weddle map show?

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