NameCensus.

UK surname

Wedgewood

A surname derived from the place name Wedgwood, referring to someone who lived near a wedge-shaped field or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 276 people recorded with the Wedgewood surname, ranking it #10,305 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 143, ranked #24,505, down from #10,305 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sessay, Darlington and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, County Durham and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wedgewood is 276 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.2%.

1881 census count

276

Ranked #10,305

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

1881

276 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wedgewood had 276 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,305 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 276 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Wedgewood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wedgewood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wedgewood 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 154 #12,668
1861 historical 169 #13,823
1881 historical 276 #10,305
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 216 #14,426
1911 historical 171 #16,461
1997 modern 154 #20,780
1998 modern 163 #20,582
1999 modern 168 #20,312
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 147 #21,756
2002 modern 154 #21,531
2003 modern 143 #22,367
2004 modern 137 #23,098
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 151 #21,818
2007 modern 157 #21,546
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 150 #23,309
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

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Where Wedgewoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sessay, Darlington, West Derby, Flimby and Lythe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, County Durham, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Sessay Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Darlington Durham
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Flimby Cumberland
5 Lythe Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 005 Harrogate
2 County Durham 055 County Durham
3 Redcar and Cleveland 001 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Stockton-on-Tees 003 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wedgewood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wedgewood

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wedgewood, 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 Wedgewood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Wedgewood 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Wedgewood 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

Wedgewood is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wedgewood falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wedgewood

The surname Wedgewood is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Old English words "wedge" and "wudu," which together mean "wedge-shaped woods." This suggests that the name may have originated from a particular area or settlement characterized by wedge-shaped woodlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Staffordshire in 1674, where a John Wedgewood is listed as a resident. The county of Staffordshire is believed to be the birthplace of the Wedgewood name, particularly in the area around the town of Burslem, which was renowned for its pottery industry.

The Wedgewood name gained prominence in the 18th century, thanks to the success of the renowned potter Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795). Josiah was born in Burslem and went on to establish the Wedgwood company, which became renowned for its high-quality ceramics and innovative designs. His contributions to the pottery industry were significant, and his name became synonymous with fine British craftsmanship.

Another notable figure bearing the Wedgewood name was Ralph Wedgwood (1766-1837), a lawyer and reformer who was a distant cousin of Josiah Wedgwood. Ralph was a prominent abolitionist and campaigned tirelessly for the abolition of slavery in the British Empire.

In the 19th century, the Wedgewood family continued to make their mark in various fields. Edward Wedgwood (1805-1888) was a renowned horticulturist and botanist, while his brother Hensleigh Wedgwood (1803-1891) was a philologist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of language and etymology.

Another notable figure was Julia Wedgwood (1833-1913), who was a writer and activist. She was a prominent member of the women's suffrage movement and advocated for women's rights and social reform.

The Wedgewood name has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Wedgwood in Staffordshire and Wedgwood Estate in Nottinghamshire, further cementing its historical significance and connection to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wedgewood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wedgewood 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. Yorkshire leads with 84 Wedgewoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.16x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 84 3.16x
Cumberland 44 19.05x
Lancashire 39 1.23x
Durham 37 4.64x
Staffordshire 23 2.54x
Warwickshire 15 2.22x
Middlesex 10 0.37x
Cheshire 6 1.01x
Worcestershire 6 1.71x
Surrey 4 0.31x
Gloucestershire 2 0.38x
Kent 2 0.22x
Angus 1 0.40x
Northumberland 1 0.25x
Sussex 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Flimby in Cumberland leads with 24 Wedgewoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 1230.77x.

Place Total Index
Flimby 24 1230.77x
West Derby 16 17.18x
Birmingham 15 6.65x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 14.58x
Brotton 13 374.64x
Darlington 12 38.95x
Stockton On Tees 11 28.59x
Great Clifton 9 1011.24x
Hinderwell 8 352.42x
Stranton 8 29.77x
Acton 7 44.50x
Ashton In Makerfield 7 77.26x
Crosscanonby 7 91.62x
Prescot 7 121.53x
Chester St Oswald 5 46.64x
Eckington 5 806.45x
Haydock 5 91.24x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 69.54x
Stanhope 5 60.68x
Yearsley 5 3333.33x
Burslem 4 15.42x
Egton 4 341.88x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 4 454.55x
Kilton 4 1000.00x
Whitby 4 44.64x
Carlton In Stokesley 3 1304.35x
Caverswall 3 63.69x
Fylingdales 3 227.27x
Ilkley 3 69.12x
Knowsley 3 260.87x
Sculcoates 3 7.12x
Slingsby 3 545.45x
Bermondsey 2 2.50x
Harrington 2 71.68x
Kilburn 2 555.56x
North Otterington 2 2857.14x
Shipbourne 2 425.53x
Sutton 2 66.01x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 26.28x
Wandsworth 2 7.75x
Bromsgrove 1 8.48x
Chester St John Baptist 1 9.40x
Collingham 1 322.58x
Dundee 1 1.08x
East Ayton 1 270.27x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 1 62.50x
Eskdaleside 1 76.34x
Forthampton 1 263.16x
Glaisdale 1 99.01x
Hammersmith London 1 1.51x
Harton 1 833.33x
Hawnby 1 476.19x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 6.24x
Northallerton 1 29.50x
Ormesby 1 14.01x
Pinner 1 42.55x
Prudhoe 1 35.97x
Ruswarp 1 33.78x
Smallthorne 1 29.76x
South Holme 1 1250.00x
St Marylebone London 1 0.70x
Subdeanery 1 29.15x
Tewkesbury 1 21.32x
Thirsk 1 32.57x
Toxteth Park 1 0.93x
Walton In Wetherby 1 555.56x
Wetherby 1 57.80x
Whickham 1 13.62x
Woodside Quarter 1 185.19x
York St George 1 47.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 11
Jane 11
Hannah 10
Ann 6
Margaret 6
Annie 5
Anne 4
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Frances 2
Jessie 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Bridge 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Christine 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Dorcas 1
Eliz. 1
Emma 1
Florn. 1
Grace 1
Harriete 1
Harriett 1
Hope 1
Laura 1
Louise 1
Marg.Agnes 1
Mgret.Jane 1
Milly 1
Minnie 1
Phillis 1
Prisilla 1
Ruth 1
S. 1
Thirza 1
Willimina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 22
Thomas 10
Joseph 9
George 6
Robert 6
Philip 5
James 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Josiah 3
Nathan 3
Wm. 3
Aaron 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Matthew 2
Phillip 2
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Byron 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Godfrey 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Levison 1
Mathew 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Tom. 1
Ton 1
Willm. 1
Wordsworth 1

FAQ

Wedgewood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wedgewood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 276 people were recorded with the Wedgewood surname. That placed it at #10,305 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wedgewood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Wedgewood a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Wedgewood surname mean?

A surname derived from the place name Wedgwood, referring to someone who lived near a wedge-shaped field or clearing.

What does the Wedgewood map show?

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