NameCensus.

UK surname

Weech

An Old English surname derived from the word "wic" meaning a dwelling or village.

In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Weech surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #22,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Compton Dundon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Taunton Deane and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weech is 116 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.2%.

1881 census count

78

Ranked #22,500

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

1911

116 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weech had 78 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Weech surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weech surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weech 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 78 #22,500
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 116 #20,850
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 105 #27,035
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 110 #26,412
2003 modern 110 #26,220
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 112 #27,061
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Weechs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Compton Dundon, Somerton and Wimbledon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Taunton Deane, Scarborough and East Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Compton Dundon Somerset
4 Somerton Somerset
5 Wimbledon Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 003 South Somerset
2 Taunton Deane 010 Taunton Deane
3 Scarborough 008 Scarborough
4 South Somerset 024 South Somerset
5 East Devon 001 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weech

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weech

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Weech surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Weech household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Weech is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Weech is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Weech 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 Weech is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Weech

The surname WEECH is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a toponymic name, derived from a place name or geographical location. One theory suggests that it may have originated from the Old English word "wic," meaning a dwelling, farm, or small village.

In the 11th century, the name WEECH appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This early reference indicates that the name was present in England during the Norman conquest. The spelling variations found in the Domesday Book include Wiche, Wyche, and Wic.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robert de Wiche, who lived in Gloucestershire during the 13th century. Another notable individual was John Weche, a wealthy merchant from Bristol, born in the late 14th century. His successful trading ventures allowed him to amass considerable wealth and influence in the region.

In the 16th century, the name WEECH appeared in various historical documents, often associated with landowners and prominent figures in rural communities. William Weeche, born in 1512 in Warwickshire, was a respected landowner and member of the local gentry.

During the 17th century, the name gained prominence in literary circles. Thomas Weech, born in 1618 in Oxfordshire, was a renowned poet and playwright whose works were widely appreciated during the Restoration period.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Weech, born in 1675 in Wiltshire. He was a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army during the War of the Spanish Succession. His bravery and leadership earned him recognition and various honors.

Throughout history, the WEECH surname has been associated with various professions, including agriculture, trade, literature, and military service. While initially concentrated in rural areas of England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weech families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weech 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. Somerset leads with 41 Weechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.30x.

County Total Index
Somerset 41 35.30x
Gloucestershire 11 7.77x
Glamorgan 7 5.57x
Monmouthshire 5 9.59x
Surrey 5 1.42x
Middlesex 4 0.55x
Lancashire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Somerton in Somerset leads with 15 Weechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3191.49x.

Place Total Index
Somerton 15 3191.49x
Compton Dundon 12 8571.43x
Bristol St James In 8 384.62x
Llangeinor 7 945.95x
Butleigh 6 3157.89x
Bedwellty 5 54.29x
Kingston On Thames 5 59.17x
Bristol St Augustine 3 131.58x
Clerkenwell London 3 17.62x
Bruton 2 434.78x
Taunton St Mary 2 93.90x
Ditcheat 1 500.00x
Evercreech 1 357.14x
High Ham 1 357.14x
St Pancras London 1 1.72x
Toxteth Park 1 3.45x
Wiveliscombe 1 153.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 11
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Jane 3
Mary 3
Harriet 2
A. 1
Amelia 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
S.J. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
James 5
John 5
Henry 3
Edmund 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.Charles 1
Thomas 1
W. 1

FAQ

Weech surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weech surname in 1881?

In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Weech surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weech surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Weech a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Weech surname mean?

An Old English surname derived from the word "wic" meaning a dwelling or village.

What does the Weech map show?

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