NameCensus.

UK surname

Weight

An occupational surname for a person who weighed goods, often for taxation or trade purposes.

In the 1881 census there were 681 people recorded with the Weight surname, ranking it #5,291 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 701, ranked #7,697, down from #5,291 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Milton Keynes, Rutland and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weight is 816 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.9%.

1881 census count

681

Ranked #5,291

Modern count

701

2016, ranked #7,697

Peak year

1998

816 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weight had 681 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,291 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 701 in 2016, ranked #7,697.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 795 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Weight surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weight surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weight 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 499 #5,010
1861 historical 768 #3,580
1881 historical 681 #5,291
1891 historical 795 #5,059
1901 historical 628 #6,820
1911 historical 793 #5,505
1997 modern 783 #6,653
1998 modern 816 #6,654
1999 modern 812 #6,717
2000 modern 813 #6,693
2001 modern 764 #6,890
2002 modern 781 #6,910
2003 modern 760 #6,937
2004 modern 745 #7,058
2005 modern 702 #7,329
2006 modern 685 #7,500
2007 modern 687 #7,535
2008 modern 702 #7,463
2009 modern 724 #7,434
2010 modern 731 #7,524
2011 modern 702 #7,684
2012 modern 694 #7,659
2013 modern 722 #7,554
2014 modern 725 #7,571
2015 modern 731 #7,474
2016 modern 701 #7,697

Geography

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Where Weights are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Milton Keynes, Rutland, Uttlesford, Bromley and Waveney. 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 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Milton Keynes 002 Milton Keynes
2 Rutland 003 Rutland
3 Uttlesford 009 Uttlesford
4 Bromley 020 Bromley
5 Waveney 007 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weight

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weight

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Weight 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

Weight is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Weight

The surname Weight is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to medieval England. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "wiht," which meant a living creature or a person. This term later evolved into the modern English word "wight," referring to a person or human being.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Weight can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry lists a landowner named Wihte, which is likely an early spelling variation of the modern Weight surname.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various historical records with spellings such as Wight, Wighte, and Wyght. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions during that time period. The surname may have also been influenced by the Old English word "gewicht," meaning weight or heaviness, suggesting a possible connection to a person's physical stature or occupation.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Weight throughout history include:

1. John Wight (c. 1590-1669), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 2. Robert Wight (1796-1872), a Scottish botanist and surgeon who made significant contributions to the study of Indian flora. 3. William Weight (1820-1899), a British architect known for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Whitechapel Art Gallery. 4. Evelyn Wight (1838-1924), an American author and activist who advocated for women's rights and temperance reform. 5. Thomas Wight (1892-1975), a British author and journalist who wrote extensively about his experiences in World War I.

The surname Weight has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Weight's Farm in Oxfordshire and Weight's Green in Kent. These locations may have derived their names from early inhabitants bearing the Weight surname or from geographical features related to the word's meaning.

While the surname Weight has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era and the Old English language, reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weight families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weight 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. Middlesex leads with 148 Weights recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 148 2.23x
Surrey 95 2.94x
Gloucestershire 72 5.53x
Yorkshire 63 0.96x
Lancashire 39 0.50x
Essex 26 1.99x
Kent 23 1.02x
Somerset 20 1.87x
Glamorgan 19 1.65x
Derbyshire 15 1.44x
Wiltshire 15 2.56x
Northumberland 14 1.42x
Berkshire 13 2.61x
Warwickshire 13 0.78x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.34x
Denbighshire 11 4.39x
Monmouthshire 10 2.09x
Norfolk 9 0.88x
Suffolk 9 1.11x
Cambridgeshire 8 1.90x
Leicestershire 8 1.09x
Devon 6 0.43x
Hampshire 5 0.37x
Brecknockshire 4 3.02x
Durham 4 0.20x
Staffordshire 3 0.13x
Sussex 3 0.27x
Westmorland 3 2.06x
Cheshire 2 0.14x
Royal Navy 2 2.53x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.16x
Channel Islands 1 0.51x
Dorset 1 0.23x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 19 Weights recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.56x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 19 3.56x
Camberwell 18 4.25x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 16 13.06x
Hammersmith London 16 9.79x
Bristol St George 15 24.93x
Swindon 14 30.77x
Newington 13 5.31x
Southwark St George Martyr 13 9.74x
West Ham 13 4.50x
Battersea 11 4.51x
Lambeth 11 1.90x
Reading St Giles 11 22.52x
Wrexham Regis 11 59.11x
Shoreditch London 10 3.48x
Enfield 9 20.68x
St Marylebone London 9 2.54x
Ystradyfodwg 9 8.88x
Briton Ferry 8 58.06x
Croydon 8 4.46x
Fulham London 8 8.32x
Kingston On Thames 8 10.30x
Westminster St James 8 11.73x
Barnsley 7 10.32x
Eston 7 48.88x
Kensington London 7 1.90x
Limehouse London 7 9.61x
Litchurch 7 16.75x
Newark Upon Trent 7 21.78x
Paddington London 7 2.87x
Stanford Rivers 7 316.74x
Aston 6 1.30x
Bedminster 6 5.98x
Cam 6 150.38x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 25.21x
Greenwich 6 5.68x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 14.18x
Hillingdon 6 28.37x
Hook 6 41.49x
Ilminster 6 80.43x
Leeds 6 1.62x
Newport 6 26.22x
St Anne Soho London 6 15.84x
St Sepulchre London 6 61.79x
Toxteth Park 6 2.25x
Twerton 6 54.50x
Avening 5 108.70x
Boroughbridge 5 226.24x
Meltham 5 48.92x
Mitcham 5 24.47x
Nottingham St Mary 5 2.16x
Preston 5 2.37x
Spindleston 5 1785.71x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 4 17.79x
Brightside Bierlow 4 3.10x
Castleton 4 5.09x
Chiswick 4 11.03x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.55x
Foleshill 4 22.73x
Hackney London 4 1.08x
Kettlebaston 4 1081.08x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.23x
Liverpool 4 0.84x
Llangunider 4 48.43x
Minchinhampton 4 38.57x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 6.79x
Portsea 4 1.50x
Snettisham 4 141.84x
Stroud 4 15.80x
Tonbridge 4 4.90x
Walthamstow 4 8.49x
Walton Le Dale 4 18.91x
West Teignmouth 4 37.88x
Woolwich 4 4.78x
Brampton 3 20.66x
Gloucester St Mary Crypt 3 150.00x
Hulme 3 1.83x
Newby In Scarborough 3 1153.85x
St Martin In Fields 3 7.55x
Swaffham Prior 3 162.16x
Throxenby 3 1034.48x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 27
George 24
James 22
Thomas 21
Charles 17
Henry 16
Edward 13
Alfred 12
Robert 12
Samuel 10
Joseph 7
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Daniel 4
Herbert 4
David 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Fredk. 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Bertie 2
Christina 2
Harry 2
Peter 2
Rowland 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
Alfpha 1
Ern. 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Fred.J. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.Hopefull 1
Fredrick 1
Hy.E. 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Joseh. 1
Laurence 1
Leonard 1
Wm.Chas. 1

FAQ

Weight surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weight surname in 1881?

In 1881, 681 people were recorded with the Weight surname. That placed it at #5,291 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weight surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 701 in 2016. That gives Weight a modern rank of #7,697.

What does the Weight surname mean?

An occupational surname for a person who weighed goods, often for taxation or trade purposes.

What does the Weight map show?

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