NameCensus.

UK surname

Weightman

An occupational surname referring to a person responsible for weighing goods or regulating weights and measures.

In the 1881 census there were 1,177 people recorded with the Weightman surname, ranking it #3,419 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,549, ranked #3,995, down from #3,419 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Allerdale and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weightman is 1,676 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.6%.

1881 census count

1,177

Ranked #3,419

Modern count

1,549

2016, ranked #3,995

Peak year

1999

1,676 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weightman had 1,177 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,419 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,549 in 2016, ranked #3,995.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,603 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Weightman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weightman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weightman 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 687 #3,787
1861 historical 537 #4,889
1881 historical 1,177 #3,419
1891 historical 1,291 #3,354
1901 historical 1,530 #3,366
1911 historical 1,603 #3,034
1997 modern 1,589 #3,719
1998 modern 1,659 #3,710
1999 modern 1,676 #3,705
2000 modern 1,644 #3,753
2001 modern 1,618 #3,734
2002 modern 1,658 #3,721
2003 modern 1,617 #3,727
2004 modern 1,615 #3,741
2005 modern 1,565 #3,810
2006 modern 1,541 #3,859
2007 modern 1,551 #3,875
2008 modern 1,550 #3,902
2009 modern 1,571 #3,937
2010 modern 1,616 #3,923
2011 modern 1,585 #3,940
2012 modern 1,548 #3,967
2013 modern 1,553 #4,020
2014 modern 1,562 #4,020
2015 modern 1,539 #4,032
2016 modern 1,549 #3,995

Geography

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Where Weightmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Workington (Workington), Clossocks and Shilbottle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Allerdale, County Durham and Amber Valley. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
5 Shilbottle Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
2 Allerdale 012 Allerdale
3 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
4 County Durham 025 County Durham
5 Amber Valley 004 Amber Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weightman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weightman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Weightman, 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 Weightman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Weightman 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Weightman 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

Weightman is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Weightman falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Weightman 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 Weightman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Weightman

The surname Weightman originates from England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English words "wihte" and "mann," meaning "a person" and "man," respectively. This combination likely referred to someone responsible for weighing goods or commodities, such as a weigher or weighmaster.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Weightman appears in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1195, where a William Wichteman is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests the name's evolution from its original Old English form.

In the 13th century, the name can be found in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a John Wichteman. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275 also contain the entry of a Richard Wyhteman.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Weightman, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York during the 14th century. He served as the city's mayor in 1364 and played a significant role in the local government.

The Weightman surname can also be traced to place names, such as Weightman's Close in the parish of Sedgefield, County Durham. This location is mentioned in records from the 16th century, suggesting that the name may have originated from a family residing in that area.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals bore the Weightman surname. Thomas Weightman (1545-1628) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Queens' College, Cambridge, from 1617 until his death.

Another noteworthy figure was John Weightman (1680-1761), a successful merchant and shipowner from the town of Whitby, Yorkshire. He played a significant role in the development of the town's maritime industry and contributed to the construction of several ships.

In the 18th century, George Weightman (1742-1823) was a prominent lawyer and politician from Yorkshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Preston from 1802 to 1806.

The Weightman surname continued to gain prominence in various fields throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Richard Weightman (1817-1904) was a British inventor and engineer who patented several innovations related to steam engines and railway signaling systems.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weightman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weightman 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. Northumberland leads with 282 Weightmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.58x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 282 16.58x
Durham 158 4.65x
Cumberland 151 15.34x
Nottinghamshire 127 8.24x
Lincolnshire 82 4.49x
Derbyshire 80 4.47x
Lancashire 62 0.46x
Yorkshire 58 0.51x
Middlesex 49 0.43x
Surrey 25 0.45x
Kent 20 0.51x
Leicestershire 11 0.87x
Hertfordshire 9 1.14x
Stirlingshire 6 1.42x
Warwickshire 6 0.21x
Flintshire 5 1.63x
Hampshire 5 0.21x
Midlothian 5 0.33x
Essex 4 0.18x
Glamorgan 4 0.20x
Wigtownshire 4 2.64x
Berkshire 3 0.35x
Northamptonshire 3 0.28x
Suffolk 3 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.29x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.79x
Westmorland 2 0.80x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Renfrewshire 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.05x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alfreton in Derbyshire leads with 54 Weightmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.30x.

Place Total Index
Alfreton 54 99.30x
Shilbottle 25 1497.01x
Caldewgate 24 44.50x
Bothal Demesne 19 233.42x
Nottingham St Mary 19 4.77x
Hauxley 18 473.68x
Westoe 18 9.34x
Elswick 17 12.52x
Newark Upon Trent 17 30.69x
Newcastle On Tyne St 17 19.28x
Tanfield 17 42.04x
Flimby 16 192.31x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 16 15.75x
Benwell 15 80.69x
Kirkby In Ashfield 15 91.02x
Penrith 15 41.25x
Borrowdale 14 795.45x
Nether Hallam 13 8.48x
Wragby 13 650.00x
Dalston Buckabank 12 600.00x
North Muskham 12 566.04x
Silksworth 12 764.33x
South Normanton 12 95.47x
St Pancras London 12 1.30x
Bishopwearmouth 11 3.77x
Islington London 11 0.99x
Litherland 11 38.79x
Whickham 11 35.14x
Bassingham 10 352.11x
Dearham 10 77.04x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 6.79x
Hulme 10 3.53x
Radford 10 12.77x
Sheriff Hutton W 10 311.53x
Skegby 10 105.93x
Snenton 10 16.52x
Ashford 9 23.69x
Chopwell 9 142.41x
Croydon 9 2.91x
Hackney London 9 1.40x
Heage 9 95.04x
Jesmond 9 37.61x
Morpeth 9 45.00x
Whittingham 9 443.35x
Cowpen 8 20.42x
East West Charlton 8 769.23x
Harton 8 59.52x
Hemel Hempstead 8 22.53x
Liverpool 8 0.97x
Paddington London 8 1.90x
Thornley 8 64.99x
Averham 7 1093.75x
Barrow On Humber 7 65.98x
Camberwell 7 0.96x
Chathill 7 2692.31x
Low Holme 7 126.13x
North Shields 7 20.62x
Sculcoates 7 3.90x
Swinhoe 7 1228.07x
Toxteth Park 7 1.52x
Tynemouth 7 7.68x
Watermillock 7 386.74x
Woolsington 7 2413.79x
Battersea 6 1.43x
Brandon Byshottles 6 14.08x
Brant Broughton 6 225.56x
Bulkington 6 96.31x
Everton 6 1.39x
Hartlepool 6 12.41x
Haydor 6 419.58x
Humshaugh 6 322.58x
Keswick 6 47.69x
Lewisham 6 2.88x
Longbenton 6 8.33x
Menston 6 231.66x
Muiravonside 6 56.02x
Ryhope 6 25.41x
St Cuthbert Within 6 52.63x
Stranton 6 5.24x
Dunston 5 462.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 92
Elizabeth 51
Jane 40
Sarah 36
Margaret 29
Ann 23
Isabella 23
Annie 20
Alice 15
Catherine 12
Eliza 12
Emma 12
Hannah 12
Ellen 10
Kate 9
Ada 7
Agnes 7
Anne 7
Charlotte 7
Rebecca 6
Harriet 5
Martha 5
Barbara 4
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Jessie 4
Betsy 3
Diana 3
Dorothy 3
Emily 3
Esther 3
Margt. 3
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Letitia 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Cassandra 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Elenor 1
Hanh. 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 108
William 83
Thomas 60
George 39
James 35
Robert 31
Joseph 20
Henry 17
Edward 15
Richard 15
Charles 14
Alfred 9
Hugh 9
Frederick 6
Arthur 5
Isaac 5
Matthew 5
Samuel 5
Frank 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Wm. 4
Cephas 3
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Nicholas 3
Percy 3
Agur 2
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Francis 2
Fred. 2
Geo. 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Clifford 1
Cormich 1
Elliott 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Errington 1
Ezra 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Wordsworth 1

FAQ

Weightman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weightman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,177 people were recorded with the Weightman surname. That placed it at #3,419 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weightman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,549 in 2016. That gives Weightman a modern rank of #3,995.

What does the Weightman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person responsible for weighing goods or regulating weights and measures.

What does the Weightman map show?

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