NameCensus.

UK surname

Weise

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname meaning "wise" or "learned," or an occupational name for a singer or poet.

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Weise surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, up from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Fareham and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weise is 127 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 287.1%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2010

127 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weise had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 51 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Weise surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weise surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weise 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 13 #30,970
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 51 #30,158
1901 historical 33 #30,384
1911 historical 44 #28,454
1997 modern 98 #27,179
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 96 #28,299
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 110 #26,430
2006 modern 114 #26,120
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 123 #25,505
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 118 #27,192
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 119 #27,813
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Weises are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, Fareham, Southwark, Wirral and Doncaster. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 008 Bristol, City of
2 Fareham 006 Fareham
3 Southwark 022 Southwark
4 Wirral 041 Wirral
5 Doncaster 023 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weise

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weise

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Weise surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Weise 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Weise is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Weise 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

Weise falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Weise

The surname WEISE has its origins in Germany, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "wis," meaning "wise" or "knowledgeable." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone considered wise or learned.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name WEISE is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This suggests that the name was already in use during this period in the region that is now modern-day Germany.

In the 14th century, records from the town of Görlitz in Saxony mention a certain Nickel Weise, indicating the presence of the name in that area at the time. The name also appears in various medieval manuscripts and chronicles, such as the Chronica Principum Saxoniae, written in the 15th century.

One notable figure with the surname WEISE was Andreas Weise (1516-1599), a German humanist scholar and educator. He was born in Zittau, Saxony, and served as the rector of the Zittau Gymnasium for over 30 years, making significant contributions to the education system of his time.

Another distinguished individual with this surname was Christian Weise (1642-1708), a German writer, poet, and playwright. He was born in Zittau and is considered one of the most important figures of the German Baroque literature period. His works include satirical plays, novels, and educational writings.

In the 18th century, Johann Weise (1718-1784) was a German composer and organist from Saxony. He composed numerous works for the church and is particularly known for his organ compositions and chorale preludes.

During the 19th century, Karl Weise (1838-1916) was a German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin, including the Reichsbank and the Börse (Stock Exchange) buildings.

The name WEISE has also been associated with various place names in Germany, such as Weisendorf, Weisenburg, and Weissenstadt, which may have influenced the spelling or pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weise families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weise 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 16 Weises recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 16 5.29x
Surrey 6 4.07x
Durham 5 5.56x
Essex 1 1.68x
Hampshire 1 1.61x
Midlothian 1 2.47x
Shropshire 1 3.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 5 Weises recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.77x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 5 64.77x
Bermondsey 4 44.44x
St Marylebone London 4 24.78x
Westminster St 4 360.36x
St George Hanover 3 75.95x
St Pancras London 3 12.33x
Westminster St John 2 54.35x
Duddingston 1 123.46x
East Ham 1 90.09x
Hordle 1 909.09x
Pirbright 1 1428.57x
Reigate Foreign 1 62.50x
Shifnal 1 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Catherine 2
Annie 1
Carilona 1
Cecilia 1
Ellen 1
Emilie 1
Hermine 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Rosetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
John 2
William 2
Benjamin 1
Carl 1
Erich 1
Ernest 1
George 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Herman 1

Top occupations

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 Weise households.

FAQ

Weise surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weise surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Weise surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weise surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Weise a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Weise surname mean?

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname meaning "wise" or "learned," or an occupational name for a singer or poet.

What does the Weise map show?

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