NameCensus.

UK surname

Weil

Derived from a German topographic name referring to someone living near a body of stagnant water or pond.

In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Weil surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 169, ranked #21,884, up from #21,957 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, St Botolph Aldgate and -. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Brentwood and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weil is 201 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 106.1%.

1881 census count

82

Ranked #21,957

Modern count

169

2016, ranked #21,884

Peak year

2009

201 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weil had 82 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,957 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016, ranked #21,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Weil surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weil surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weil 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 14 #30,790
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 82 #21,957
1891 historical 125 #20,713
1901 historical 140 #18,795
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 193 #18,511
1999 modern 192 #18,689
2000 modern 184 #19,190
2001 modern 175 #19,484
2002 modern 174 #19,971
2003 modern 181 #19,277
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 186 #18,985
2006 modern 179 #19,592
2007 modern 177 #19,965
2008 modern 185 #19,589
2009 modern 201 #18,965
2010 modern 201 #19,387
2011 modern 198 #19,410
2012 modern 177 #20,836
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 178 #21,259
2015 modern 177 #21,220
2016 modern 169 #21,884

Geography

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Where Weils are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, St Botolph Aldgate, -, London parishes and Willesden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Brentwood, Hackney and Westminster. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 St Botolph Aldgate London (Central Districts)
3 - City Of London
4 London parishes London 1
5 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 033 Barnet
2 Brentwood 006 Brentwood
3 Hackney 029 Hackney
4 Westminster 018 Westminster
5 Barnet 035 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weil

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weil

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Weil surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Weil 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Weil is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

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

Weil 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

Weil 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 Weil 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Weil

The surname Weil is of German origin, derived from the Old German word "wil" meaning "will" or "desire". It is believed to have originated as a descriptive name for someone who was stubborn or strong-willed.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Weil can be traced back to the 12th century in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around the Black Forest and along the Rhine River. In historical records, the name is often found spelled in various ways, such as Weyl, Wiele, and Wiele.

One of the earliest known references to the name Weil is found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the 13th century, where a person named Heinricus Weil is mentioned in a land transaction.

In the 14th century, the name Weil appears in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a famous illustrated world history book published in 1493, suggesting that the name was well-established by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Weil throughout history include Johann Weil (1458-1522), a German theologian and reformer who was a contemporary of Martin Luther. Another prominent figure was André Weil (1906-1998), a influential French mathematician known for his contributions to number theory and algebraic geometry.

Other notable Weils include Simone Weil (1909-1943), a French philosopher and activist who wrote extensively on topics such as social justice and spirituality. Gustav Weil (1808-1889) was a German-Jewish Orientalist and historian who made significant contributions to the study of Arabic literature and Islamic history.

In the realm of literature, the surname Weil is associated with the American author Simone Weil (1923-2017), who wrote several acclaimed novels exploring themes of identity and belonging.

While the name Weil is most commonly found in Germany and other parts of Central Europe, it has also spread to other regions through migration and has been adopted by families of diverse backgrounds over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weil families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weil 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 63 Weils recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.88x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 63 7.88x
Surrey 7 1.80x
Worcestershire 5 4.79x
Essex 3 1.90x
Angus 1 1.35x
Dunbartonshire 1 4.65x
Shropshire 1 1.45x
Sussex 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Botolph Aldgate in Middlesex leads with 11 Weils recorded in 1881 and an index of 1009.17x.

Place Total Index
St Botolph Aldgate 11 1009.17x
Islington London 8 10.32x
St Marylebone London 8 18.73x
Newington 7 23.69x
Mile End Old Town 6 47.51x
Clerkenwell London 5 26.48x
Hackney London 5 11.15x
Hammersmith London 5 25.38x
Blockley 4 677.97x
Westminster St James 4 48.66x
West Ham 3 8.61x
Hampstead London 2 16.05x
St George Bloomsbury 2 43.57x
St Luke London 2 15.59x
St Pancras London 2 3.11x
Kings Norton 1 10.67x
Liff Benvie 1 8.89x
Ludlow St Lawrence 1 72.99x
Old Kilpatrick 1 39.37x
Shoreditch London 1 2.88x
South Bersted 1 86.96x
St George Hanover 1 9.58x
Whitechapel London 1 12.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 3
Ann 3
Rose 3
Bertha 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Gertrude 2
Helena 2
Sophia 2
Ada 1
Bella 1
Celia 1
E. 1
Emma 1
Gardner 1
Henrietta 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Margeurite 1
Mary 1
Mildred 1
Nanetta 1
Nathalie 1
Phillipina 1
Rhoda 1
Sarah 1
Sopha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
Charles 2
John 2
Louis 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Simon 2
Adolfs. 1
Alfred 1
Augustus 1
Carl 1
E. 1
Earnest 1
Felix 1
Gottlieb 1
Henry 1
Isidor 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Leopold 1
Mark 1
Nathan 1
Robert 1
Salomon 1
Victor 1
Walter 1
William 1

FAQ

Weil surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weil surname in 1881?

In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Weil surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weil surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016. That gives Weil a modern rank of #21,884.

What does the Weil surname mean?

Derived from a German topographic name referring to someone living near a body of stagnant water or pond.

What does the Weil map show?

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