UK surname
An English habitational surname denoting someone from a place called Weld or Weald.
In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Weld surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #18,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weld is 302 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.0%.
1881 census count
107
Ranked #18,982
Modern count
77
2016, ranked #33,236
Peak year
1891
302 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Weld surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Weld surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 156 | #12,552 |
| 1861 | historical | 298 | #8,485 |
| 1881 | historical | 107 | #18,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 302 | #11,058 |
| 1901 | historical | 133 | #19,372 |
| 1911 | historical | 115 | #20,951 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 92 | #28,680 |
| 1999 | modern | 97 | #28,187 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 83 | #29,617 |
| 2002 | modern | 86 | #29,771 |
| 2003 | modern | 84 | #29,978 |
| 2004 | modern | 85 | #30,132 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 80 | #31,149 |
| 2007 | modern | 83 | #31,183 |
| 2008 | modern | 78 | #32,081 |
| 2009 | modern | 83 | #31,950 |
| 2010 | modern | 76 | #33,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 74 | #33,151 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 76 | #33,423 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 77 | #33,236 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, St Marylebone and Enfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Enfield | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Weld surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Weld, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Weld surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Weld household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Weld is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Weld is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Weld, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WELD is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English word "weld" meaning "to govern" or "to rule". It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the early medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Welda" in the county of Yorkshire. This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name was also found in various forms, such as "Welde", "Weld", and "Wealde", in various parts of England, indicating its gradual spread across the country.
The Weld family has a long and distinguished history, with several notable members contributing to various fields over the centuries. One of the earliest known members was Sir Humphrey Weld (c.1490-1537), a prominent lawyer and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII.
Another notable figure was Thomas Weld (1750-1810), a wealthy English Catholic landowner and philanthropist who played a significant role in establishing the first Catholic seminary in England after the Reformation.
In the 19th century, Isaac Weld (1774-1856) was a notable Irish-born explorer and author who travelled extensively in North America and wrote several books about his experiences, including "Travels Through the States of North America and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, During the Years 1795, 1796, and 1797".
The name Weld has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Weld Bank in Yorkshire and Weld Estate in Dorset.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Weld family gained prominence in the United States, with several members serving in various political and military capacities. One notable figure was Lewis Weld (1786-1853), who served as a brigadier general in the Massachusetts militia during the War of 1812.
Throughout its long history, the surname WELD has been carried by many accomplished individuals across various fields, reflecting its deep roots and rich heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weld surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 25 Welds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 25 | 2.46x |
| Lancashire | 16 | 1.33x |
| Kent | 12 | 3.47x |
| Cumberland | 9 | 10.31x |
| Surrey | 9 | 1.82x |
| Sussex | 9 | 5.26x |
| Dorset | 6 | 9.01x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 2.89x |
| Northumberland | 6 | 3.98x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.50x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.43x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.73x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.61x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.29x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.10x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 9 Welds recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.89x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 9 | 13.89x |
| Whitehaven | 9 | 193.55x |
| St Pancras London | 8 | 9.80x |
| Enfield | 7 | 105.11x |
| Birkdale | 6 | 196.72x |
| Boldre | 6 | 810.81x |
| Eastbourne | 6 | 76.24x |
| Elswick | 6 | 49.83x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 5 | 136.99x |
| East Lulworth | 4 | 3076.92x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 7.09x |
| Aighton Bailey | 3 | 517.24x |
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 12.00x |
| Herne | 3 | 196.08x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 8.04x |
| South Bersted | 3 | 206.90x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 2 | 7.60x |
| Castleton | 2 | 16.64x |
| Chideock | 2 | 869.57x |
| Sandhurst | 2 | 487.80x |
| Tenterden | 2 | 163.93x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 4.91x |
| Brislington | 1 | 333.33x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 2.83x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 10.95x |
| Sedgley | 1 | 7.86x |
| Stapleford | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Warrington | 1 | 7.01x |
| Westbury On Trym | 1 | 14.84x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Weld surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 7 |
| Eleanor | 4 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Clara | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Flora | 2 |
| Georgina | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| M. | 2 |
| A.R. | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Apollonia | 1 |
| Barbara | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Constance | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elizabeth | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| F. | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| J. | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Monica | 1 |
| N. | 1 |
| Oleefa | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Weld surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Weld households.
FAQ
In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Weld surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Weld a modern rank of #33,236.
An English habitational surname denoting someone from a place called Weld or Weald.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Weld bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.