NameCensus.

UK surname

Wedlake

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "from the lake in the meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 408 people recorded with the Wedlake surname, ranking it #7,852 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 374, ranked #12,490, down from #7,852 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dundry, Winford, Nempnett Thrubwell, Blagdon, Butcombe, London parishes and St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Somerset, Bridgend and Middlesbrough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wedlake is 517 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.3%.

1881 census count

408

Ranked #7,852

Modern count

374

2016, ranked #12,490

Peak year

1911

517 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wedlake had 408 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,852 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 374 in 2016, ranked #12,490.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 517 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Wedlake surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wedlake surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wedlake 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 270 #8,275
1861 historical 270 #9,216
1881 historical 408 #7,852
1891 historical 491 #7,536
1901 historical 484 #8,244
1911 historical 517 #7,634
1997 modern 426 #10,490
1998 modern 442 #10,547
1999 modern 441 #10,631
2000 modern 434 #10,730
2001 modern 421 #10,789
2002 modern 416 #11,120
2003 modern 417 #10,924
2004 modern 408 #11,117
2005 modern 402 #11,137
2006 modern 399 #11,282
2007 modern 404 #11,290
2008 modern 397 #11,556
2009 modern 406 #11,586
2010 modern 419 #11,550
2011 modern 423 #11,333
2012 modern 383 #12,099
2013 modern 399 #11,944
2014 modern 386 #12,318
2015 modern 382 #12,322
2016 modern 374 #12,490

Geography

Back to top

Where Wedlakes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dundry, Winford, Nempnett Thrubwell, Blagdon, Butcombe, London parishes, St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford and Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Somerset, Bridgend, Middlesbrough, West Devon and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Dundry, Winford, Nempnett Thrubwell, Blagdon, Butcombe Somerset
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford Somerset
5 Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Somerset 013 North Somerset
2 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
3 Middlesbrough 003 Middlesbrough
4 West Devon 003 West Devon
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 018 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wedlake

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wedlake

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Wedlake surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wedlake household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Wedlake is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Wedlake 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

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

Meaning and origin of Wedlake

The surname Wedlake is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the counties of Devon and Somerset in the southwestern region of England during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from a combination of the Old English words "wed," meaning pledge or covenant, and "lacu," meaning a small stream or watercourse.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wedlake can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from the year 1327, where it appears as "Wedlak." This suggests that the name was well-established in the region by the 14th century. The spelling variations of the name during this time included Wedlake, Wedlok, Wedlock, and Wedlocke.

In the 16th century, the surname is mentioned in the records of the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Somerset, where a John Wedlake is listed as a resident of the village of Chew Magna in 1523. This village, situated in the Chew Valley region of Somerset, may have played a significant role in the early development and spread of the Wedlake surname.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Wedlake was Sir Thomas Wedlake (1556-1622), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Somerset during the reign of King James I. He was born in Taunton, Somerset, and held substantial estates in the county.

Another individual of note was John Wedlake (1677-1745), a prominent English merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He was a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers and made significant contributions to the city, including funding the construction of several almshouses for the poor.

In the 18th century, the Wedlake surname appears in the parish records of various villages in Somerset and Devon, such as Wedmore, Cheddar, and Axminster, indicating the continued presence of the name in these areas.

During the 19th century, the name Wedlake gained wider recognition with the accomplishments of individuals like William Wedlake (1823-1901), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in the city of Bath, including the Cleveland Bridge and the Sydney Gardens Cottage.

Another noteworthy figure was Reverend Thomas Wedlake (1798-1863), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Milverton in Somerset and wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Church of England on Holy Baptism" and "The Doctrine of the Church of England on the Holy Eucharist."

While the surname Wedlake has its roots in the southwestern counties of England, it has since spread to other parts of the country and even across the world through migration and settlement patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wedlake families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wedlake 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 88 Wedlakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.60x.

County Total Index
Devon 88 10.60x
Somerset 86 13.39x
Glamorgan 71 10.22x
Middlesex 65 1.63x
Cornwall 47 10.41x
Gloucestershire 12 1.53x
Berkshire 8 2.67x
Essex 7 0.89x
Lancashire 7 0.15x
Kent 6 0.44x
Surrey 5 0.26x
Hertfordshire 2 0.73x
Sussex 2 0.30x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Oxfordshire 1 0.41x
Royal Navy 1 2.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Winford in Somerset leads with 32 Wedlakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2480.62x.

Place Total Index
Winford 32 2480.62x
Swansea Town 24 42.13x
St Austell 20 129.53x
Islington London 18 4.65x
Llandaff 15 64.91x
Coedfrank 12 249.48x
St Decumans Watchet 12 736.20x
Tormoham 9 25.61x
Appleford 8 1702.13x
Bodmin 8 107.10x
Carhampton 8 909.09x
Dunsford 8 754.72x
Hackney London 8 3.58x
Holcombe Burnell 8 2666.67x
Redruth 8 62.60x
Bitton Oldland 7 87.50x
Chew Stoke 7 736.84x
Minehead 7 288.07x
Skerton 7 179.95x
South Tawton 7 409.36x
St Pancras London 7 2.18x
Stogumber 7 411.76x
Ashreigney 6 652.17x
Buckland Brewer 6 594.06x
Hornchurch 6 155.44x
Kensington London 6 2.70x
Chelsea London 5 4.16x
Fulham London 5 8.64x
Hornsey 5 9.91x
Luxulyan 5 333.33x
Madron Penzance 5 30.43x
Shillingford St George 5 5000.00x
Stoke Damerel 5 8.60x
Williton 5 232.56x
Ystradyfodwg 5 8.20x
Cardiff St Mary 4 10.45x
Eastdown 4 816.33x
Exeter Holy Trinity 4 123.08x
Landkey 4 487.80x
St Decumans 4 645.16x
St George Hanover 4 7.68x
Swansea 4 512.82x
Croydon 3 2.78x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 15.77x
Llanwonno 3 12.02x
Acton 2 8.55x
Brighton 2 1.47x
Clifton 2 5.06x
Crayford 2 33.67x
Exeter St John 2 338.98x
Llantrisant 2 11.42x
Plymouth Charles The 2 5.47x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 3.13x
Roath 2 6.34x
Roborough 2 363.64x
Sampford Courtenay 2 161.29x
Watford 2 9.38x
Westleigh 2 294.12x
Backwell 1 75.76x
Barnstaple 1 7.67x
Chipping Ongar 1 74.07x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.06x
Cuddington 1 133.33x
Cutcombe 1 129.87x
Exeter St Paul 1 60.98x
Folkestone 1 3.79x
Horfield 1 12.71x
Illogan 1 8.36x
Margate St John Baptist 1 4.01x
Paddington London 1 0.68x
Powderham 1 263.16x
Ramsgate 1 4.50x
Royal Navy 1 2.46x
Shanklin 1 40.98x
Shoreditch London 1 0.58x
West Teignmouth 1 15.75x
Westbury On Trym 1 3.77x
Willesden 1 2.66x
Wrington 1 46.30x
Yarnscombe 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 14
Jane 12
Alice 8
Ann 8
Emma 7
Sarah 7
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Martha 6
Elizth. 5
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Hannah 5
Maria 5
Agnes 4
Charlotte 4
Florence 4
Louisa 4
Matilda 4
Clara 3
Edith 3
Harriet 3
Bessie 2
Diana 2
Eleanor 2
Julia 2
Minnie 2
Anna 1
Blanch 1
Celia 1
Charlott 1
Dorah 1
Eliz 1
Ellin 1
Eva 1
Eveleyn 1
Fanny 1
Gwenny 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hylda 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
L.M. 1
Leah 1
Lily 1
Mabel 1
Mable 1
Veretta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 26
Thomas 14
George 13
James 9
Henry 8
Edward 7
Richard 7
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Robert 5
Joseph 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Walter 4
Daniel 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Paskel 2
Sidney 2
Wm. 2
Alonzo 1
Andrew 1
Bertram 1
Clarence 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Milburn 1
Morgan 1
Philip 1
Robt. 1
Rubin 1
Silvanus 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Thos.Wm.Jos. 1
Wallace 1
Wm.P. 1

FAQ

Wedlake surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wedlake surname in 1881?

In 1881, 408 people were recorded with the Wedlake surname. That placed it at #7,852 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wedlake surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 374 in 2016. That gives Wedlake a modern rank of #12,490.

What does the Wedlake surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "from the lake in the meadow".

What does the Wedlake map show?

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