UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name, referring to someone from Wedmore, Somerset.
In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Wedmore surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #18,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Clifton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wedmore is 121 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.4%.
1881 census count
109
Ranked #18,793
Modern count
78
2016, ranked #33,171
Peak year
1911
121 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wedmore surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wedmore surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 66 | #25,487 |
| 1881 | historical | 109 | #18,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 109 | #21,712 |
| 1911 | historical | 121 | #20,336 |
| 1997 | modern | 80 | #29,554 |
| 1998 | modern | 77 | #30,289 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 75 | #30,668 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 72 | #31,281 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 71 | #31,816 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 80 | #31,527 |
| 2008 | modern | 82 | #31,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 82 | #32,048 |
| 2010 | modern | 84 | #32,289 |
| 2011 | modern | 81 | #32,558 |
| 2012 | modern | 81 | #32,796 |
| 2013 | modern | 80 | #33,058 |
| 2014 | modern | 77 | #33,336 |
| 2015 | modern | 81 | #32,975 |
| 2016 | modern | 78 | #33,171 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Clifton, Nailsea and Blandford Town, Pimperne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 3 | Clifton | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Nailsea | Somerset |
| 5 | Blandford Town, Pimperne | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wedmore surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wedmore, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wedmore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wedmore household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wedmore is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wedmore is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wedmore, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wedmore originated in Somerset, England, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period between the 5th and 11th centuries. It is a locational name derived from the town of Wedmore in Somerset, which itself comes from the Old English words "wæd" meaning "woad" and "mor" meaning "moor" or "marsh."
One of the earliest recorded references to the Wedmore name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named "Wedmor" in Somerset. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, records show a Thomas de Wedmore, who was a prominent figure in Somerset and held lands in the area. Another early bearer of the name was John Wedmore, a clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton in Somerset in the late 14th century.
The name Wedmore has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history, including Sir John Wedmore (1556-1619), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1599. Robert Wedmore (1765-1835) was a prominent English land surveyor and cartographer, known for his detailed maps of Somerset and the surrounding areas.
In the literary world, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921) was a prominent English art critic and poet, known for his works on English Renaissance art and his collaboration with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Another notable figure with the Wedmore surname was Thomas Wedmore (1796-1876), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Dunstan-in-the-West.
While the name Wedmore originated in Somerset, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond. Variations in spelling, such as Wedmoor and Wedmore, have also been recorded over the centuries, reflecting regional dialects and variations in pronunciation.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wedmore surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Gloucestershire leads with 53 Wedmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 53 | 25.42x |
| Somerset | 38 | 22.21x |
| Dorset | 10 | 14.33x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.56x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.28x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westbury On Trym in Gloucestershire leads with 15 Wedmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 212.46x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Westbury On Trym | 15 | 212.46x |
| Bristol St James In | 8 | 260.59x |
| Blandford Forum | 7 | 507.25x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 7 | 208.33x |
| Dundry | 7 | 3333.33x |
| Nailsea | 7 | 1029.41x |
| Pucklechurch | 6 | 1276.60x |
| Bristol St Paul In | 5 | 90.09x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 5 | 25.47x |
| Hampstead London | 5 | 30.19x |
| Wraxall | 5 | 1515.15x |
| Bedminster | 4 | 24.88x |
| Weston Super Mare | 4 | 92.59x |
| Clifton | 3 | 28.46x |
| Portishead | 3 | 236.22x |
| Stourpaine | 3 | 1500.00x |
| Weston | 3 | 227.27x |
| Abbots Leigh | 1 | 769.23x |
| Clevedon | 1 | 56.18x |
| Eltham | 1 | 46.95x |
| Gloucester St Mary Lode | 1 | 204.08x |
| Horfield | 1 | 47.62x |
| Kenn | 1 | 909.09x |
| Risca | 1 | 68.97x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.17x |
| Stapleton | 1 | 25.25x |
| Walcot | 1 | 10.98x |
| Winscombe | 1 | 217.39x |
| Woodchester | 1 | 303.03x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wedmore surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wedmore surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wedmore households.
FAQ
In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Wedmore surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Wedmore a modern rank of #33,171.
An English surname derived from a place name, referring to someone from Wedmore, Somerset.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wedmore bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.