NameCensus.

UK surname

Weiss

A German and Jewish surname meaning "white," referring to someone with very pale hair or complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 160 people recorded with the Weiss surname, ranking it #14,860 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 852, ranked #6,566, up from #14,860 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Willesden and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Salford and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weiss is 854 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 432.5%.

1881 census count

160

Ranked #14,860

Modern count

852

2016, ranked #6,566

Peak year

2015

854 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weiss had 160 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,860 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 852 in 2016, ranked #6,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 484 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Weiss surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weiss surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weiss 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 160 #14,860
1891 historical 216 #14,107
1901 historical 430 #9,000
1911 historical 484 #8,026
1997 modern 678 #7,427
1998 modern 688 #7,582
1999 modern 709 #7,446
2000 modern 735 #7,220
2001 modern 704 #7,337
2002 modern 704 #7,474
2003 modern 712 #7,279
2004 modern 716 #7,259
2005 modern 726 #7,126
2006 modern 716 #7,232
2007 modern 731 #7,207
2008 modern 746 #7,135
2009 modern 792 #6,950
2010 modern 817 #6,896
2011 modern 800 #6,952
2012 modern 794 #6,874
2013 modern 816 #6,826
2014 modern 848 #6,672
2015 modern 854 #6,574
2016 modern 852 #6,566

Geography

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Where Weiss' are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Salford and Barnet. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 001 Hackney
2 Salford 010 Salford
3 Hackney 029 Hackney
4 Hackney 004 Hackney
5 Barnet 033 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weiss

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weiss

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Weiss, 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 Weiss surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Weiss 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Weiss is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Weiss 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

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

Meaning and origin of Weiss

The surname Weiss originated in Germany and German-speaking regions of Europe. It is derived from the German word 'weiss', which means 'white'. The name likely referred to someone with white hair, pale complexion, or perhaps even someone who worked with white materials or fabrics.

The earliest known records of the surname Weiss date back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany. It appeared in various forms such as Weys, Weyz, and Weyss, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, which mentions a certain Heinrich Weyss in 1287.

The name Weiss also appears in the Bürgermeisterbuch, a historical record of the city of Nuremberg, where a Konrad Weiss is listed as a citizen in 1349.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Weiss. One of the earliest was Judah Loew ben Bezalel (c. 1520-1609), a prominent rabbi and philosopher from Prague, also known as the Maharal.

Another famous bearer of the name was Christian Samuel Weiss (1701-1785), a German theologian and biblical scholar known for his work on the New Testament.

In the 19th century, Johann Baptist Weiss (1820-1899) was a renowned German Catholic theologian and biblical scholar, best known for his contributions to the study of the Gospels.

The 20th century saw the rise of influential figures like Paul Weiss (1901-2002), an American philosopher and literary critic, and Peter Weiss (1916-1982), a German playwright, novelist, and filmmaker known for his works exploring the human condition and social injustice.

One of the most famous current bearers of the name is Michael Weiss, a renowned American figure skating analyst and commentator.

While the surname Weiss is predominantly found in German-speaking regions, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weiss families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weiss 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 72 Weiss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.64x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 72 4.64x
Warwickshire 20 5.11x
Lancashire 16 0.87x
Surrey 12 1.59x
Durham 11 2.38x
Kent 6 1.13x
Perthshire 4 5.75x
Essex 3 0.98x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.44x
Cheshire 2 0.58x
Norfolk 2 0.84x
Sussex 2 0.76x
Yorkshire 2 0.13x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.70x
Bedfordshire 1 1.25x
Gloucestershire 1 0.33x
Shropshire 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edgbaston in Warwickshire leads with 16 Weiss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 131.90x.

Place Total Index
Edgbaston 16 131.90x
Islington London 11 7.32x
St Pancras London 11 8.81x
Battersea 7 12.27x
Gorton 7 40.46x
Poplar London 7 23.92x
St George In East 7 66.35x
Bethnal Green London 6 8.90x
Kensington London 6 6.96x
Fulwell 5 1785.71x
West Derby 5 9.29x
Whitechapel London 5 32.70x
Birmingham 4 3.07x
Bishopwearmouth 4 10.10x
Perth East Church 4 60.98x
Liverpool 3 2.68x
Mile End Old Town 3 12.25x
St George Bloomsbury 3 33.71x
St Giles In Fields 3 56.07x
St Marylebone London 3 3.62x
Beckenham 2 28.90x
Hampstead London 2 8.28x
Lambeth 2 1.48x
Mansfield 2 27.66x
Roughton 2 869.57x
Shoreditch London 2 2.97x
Stranton 2 12.88x
Thaxted 2 196.08x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 3.72x
Aspley Guise 1 129.87x
Brighton 1 1.90x
Caterham 1 29.94x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 18.12x
Cheltenham 1 4.26x
Condover 1 106.38x
Droylsden 1 16.67x
Fulham London 1 4.45x
Hammersmith London 1 2.62x
Hartford 1 129.87x
Lamberhurst 1 151.52x
Liscard 1 16.21x
Manningham 1 5.28x
Milton In Gravesend 1 12.59x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.85x
Rochester St Margaret 1 17.92x
Scarborough 1 7.16x
St George Hanover 1 4.94x
Walton On Thames 1 28.82x
West Ham 1 1.48x
Woolwich 1 5.12x
Wotton 1 270.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Anna 4
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Emily 3
Augusta 2
Dora 2
Elise 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Jane 2
Katterina 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Aline 1
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Ernestine 1
Eugenie 1
Euphemia 1
F. 1
Frances 1
Francesca 1
Fredrica 1
Hannah 1
Henerietta 1
Josephine 1
Jula 1
Julia 1
Karaline 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lizenor 1
Madelina 1
Madeline 1
Margaret 1
Marie 1
Mina 1
Pauline 1
Rosa 1
Rosilla 1
Sophie 1
Violetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 6
George 5
Joseph 5
John 4
Samuel 4
William 4
Frederick 3
Abraham 2
Alfred 2
Florian 2
Adam 1
Adolphus 1
Alec 1
Aloys 1
August 1
Bernhard 1
Bertram 1
C.E. 1
Christion 1
Edward 1
Ernst 1
Felix 1
Fredk.H. 1
Gabor 1
Gottfried 1
Gustav 1
Gustave 1
Gustavus 1
Henry 1
Hubert 1
Ignak 1
Jacob 1
James 1
Jethro 1
Josp. 1
Julian 1
Leonidas 1
Marcus 1
Mathias 1
Michael 1
Moritz 1
Otto 1
Otto. 1
Percy 1
Rudolph 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
Ulric 1
Wille 1
Willoughby 1

FAQ

Weiss surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weiss surname in 1881?

In 1881, 160 people were recorded with the Weiss surname. That placed it at #14,860 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weiss surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 852 in 2016. That gives Weiss a modern rank of #6,566.

What does the Weiss surname mean?

A German and Jewish surname meaning "white," referring to someone with very pale hair or complexion.

What does the Weiss map show?

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