NameCensus.

UK surname

Welbourne

A habitational surname derived from a place name denoting a good spring or well near a stream.

In the 1881 census there were 190 people recorded with the Welbourne surname, ranking it #13,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 386, ranked #12,202, up from #13,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Otley, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Plungar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Welbourne is 412 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 103.2%.

1881 census count

190

Ranked #13,270

Modern count

386

2016, ranked #12,202

Peak year

1998

412 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Welbourne had 190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016, ranked #12,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 391 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Welbourne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Welbourne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Welbourne 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 101 #17,036
1861 historical 136 #16,556
1881 historical 190 #13,270
1891 historical 254 #12,598
1901 historical 340 #10,647
1911 historical 391 #9,443
1997 modern 383 #11,359
1998 modern 412 #11,108
1999 modern 409 #11,264
2000 modern 402 #11,357
2001 modern 390 #11,420
2002 modern 407 #11,294
2003 modern 407 #11,136
2004 modern 411 #11,053
2005 modern 381 #11,619
2006 modern 374 #11,822
2007 modern 374 #11,974
2008 modern 391 #11,675
2009 modern 399 #11,750
2010 modern 400 #11,992
2011 modern 401 #11,843
2012 modern 381 #12,152
2013 modern 383 #12,314
2014 modern 391 #12,214
2015 modern 387 #12,218
2016 modern 386 #12,202

Geography

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Where Welbournes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Otley, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Plungar, Manchester and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven and Fenland. 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 Otley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Plungar Nottinghamshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 007 South Kesteven
2 Fenland 009 Fenland
3 South Kesteven 005 South Kesteven
4 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
5 South Kesteven 002 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Welbourne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Welbourne

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Welbourne, 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 Welbourne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Welbourne 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Welbourne is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Welbourne is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Welbourne 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 Welbourne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Welbourne

The surname Welbourne originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "well" and "burna," meaning a stream or brook near a well or spring. This suggests that the name originally referred to a location or settlement near a well or spring.

The Welbourne surname is closely associated with the county of Hampshire in southern England. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the name appears as "Waleborne" and "Walebrunne," referring to a manor and village in the area. This indicates that the name was established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Welbourne surname was Richard de Welleburn, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1194. Another early record is of Roger de Welleburn, who was listed in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1206.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Welleborne," "Welburne," and "Weleborne." This variation in spelling was common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

Notable individuals with the Welbourne surname include:

1. Sir Richard Welbourne (c. 1550 - 1615), an English lawyer and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Edward Welbourne (1639 - 1699), an English clergyman and religious writer who served as the Archdeacon of Stow. 3. John Welbourne (1685 - 1761), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of the Gregorian calendar. 4. William Welbourne (1773 - 1846), a British naval officer and explorer who charted parts of the Pacific Ocean and Australia. 5. Elizabeth Welbourne (1805 - 1889), an English novelist and poet known for her works on social issues and women's rights.

The Welbourne surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Welbourne in Lincolnshire and Welburn in North Yorkshire. These locations likely derived their names from the same Old English roots as the surname, reflecting the settlements' proximity to wells or springs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Welbourne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Welbourne 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. Yorkshire leads with 51 Welbournes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.78x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 51 2.78x
Lincolnshire 44 14.85x
Nottinghamshire 36 14.41x
Middlesex 15 0.81x
Hertfordshire 9 7.05x
Staffordshire 7 1.12x
Derbyshire 5 1.72x
Huntingdonshire 5 13.59x
Norfolk 4 1.40x
Lancashire 3 0.14x
Leicestershire 3 1.46x
Monmouthshire 2 1.49x
Warwickshire 2 0.43x
Essex 1 0.27x
Northamptonshire 1 0.57x
Oxfordshire 1 0.87x
Surrey 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nuthall in Nottinghamshire leads with 11 Welbournes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1170.21x.

Place Total Index
Nuthall 11 1170.21x
Bengeo 9 608.11x
Nottingham St Mary 9 13.93x
Tealby 8 1904.76x
Holy Trinity 7 15.85x
St Luke London 7 23.55x
Hayton 6 4285.71x
Radford 6 47.28x
Beverley St Mary 5 186.57x
Fletton 5 423.73x
Pontefract 5 126.26x
Rigton 5 2083.33x
Asterby 4 2857.14x
Derby St Peter 4 43.29x
Gainsborough 4 57.22x
Great Grimsby 4 21.27x
Sutton 4 191.39x
Barton Under Needwood 3 263.16x
Brightside Bierlow 3 8.33x
Colsterworth 3 476.19x
Sculcoates 3 10.30x
St Nicholas Lincoln 3 106.01x
Wednesbury 3 19.19x
Barton St Peter 2 147.06x
Caerleon 2 285.71x
Elloughton Cum Brough 2 350.88x
Great Ponton 2 666.67x
Kensington London 2 1.94x
Kinoulton 2 952.38x
Leamington Priors 2 17.39x
North Meols 2 9.29x
Ratcliffe Upon Trent 2 317.46x
Saltby 2 1176.47x
South Stoke 2 2222.22x
St Andrew Holborn 2 31.85x
St George Hanover 2 8.27x
St Pancras London 2 1.34x
Welney 2 307.69x
Barrowby 1 196.08x
Basford 1 8.69x
Bestwood Park 1 227.27x
Boston 1 11.12x
Bulcote 1 1428.57x
Calcethorpe 1 1111.11x
Cowley 1 28.01x
Downham Market 1 51.02x
Etton 1 312.50x
Faldingworth 1 555.56x
Hackness 1 769.23x
Hawnby 1 666.67x
Hessle In Sculcoates 1 61.73x
Hinderwell 1 63.69x
Horkstow 1 555.56x
Kirkleatham 1 40.32x
Leicester St Margaret 1 2.00x
Little Bytham 1 526.32x
Ludford Magna 1 400.00x
Ludford Parva 1 454.55x
Manningham 1 4.42x
Middlesbrough 1 4.18x
North Collingham 1 169.49x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 29.41x
Peterborough 1 7.92x
Sheffield 1 1.71x
Shipley 1 10.49x
Skellingthorpe 1 217.39x
Skipsea 1 400.00x
Sotby 1 833.33x
Stansted Mountfitchet 1 108.70x
Stapenhill 1 23.15x
Tathwell 1 370.37x
Thoroton 1 1000.00x
Toxteth Park 1 1.34x
Welby 1 400.00x
West Bromwich 1 2.79x
Whissonsett 1 256.41x
Woking 1 18.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 9
Ann 5
Annie 5
Alice 4
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Amanda 1
Amy 1
Bessy 1
Delora 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Emily 1
Esma 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
G.E.M. 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Louis 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Mark 1
Myra 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 14
John 14
William 10
Richard 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
David 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Jno. 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Alfred 1
Bertie 1
Dale 1
Darley 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Frank 1
Gershon 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jack 1
Jesse 1
Lewis 1
Rufus 1
Watson 1
Willie 1
Wilson 1
Wm. 1
Zebadee 1

FAQ

Welbourne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Welbourne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 190 people were recorded with the Welbourne surname. That placed it at #13,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Welbourne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016. That gives Welbourne a modern rank of #12,202.

What does the Welbourne surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name denoting a good spring or well near a stream.

What does the Welbourne map show?

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