NameCensus.

UK surname

Welford

A locative surname originating from Welford, a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 842 people recorded with the Welford surname, ranking it #4,478 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,629, ranked #3,819, up from #4,478 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brill, London parishes and Dinton with Ford, Upton, Aston Mollins, and Moreton). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, Redcar and Cleveland and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Welford is 1,783 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.5%.

1881 census count

842

Ranked #4,478

Modern count

1,629

2016, ranked #3,819

Peak year

1998

1,783 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Welford had 842 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,478 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,629 in 2016, ranked #3,819.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,459 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Welford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Welford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Welford 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 499 #5,010
1861 historical 582 #4,530
1881 historical 842 #4,478
1891 historical 1,017 #4,088
1901 historical 1,158 #4,215
1911 historical 1,459 #3,306
1997 modern 1,726 #3,452
1998 modern 1,783 #3,482
1999 modern 1,774 #3,525
2000 modern 1,742 #3,566
2001 modern 1,711 #3,555
2002 modern 1,725 #3,610
2003 modern 1,685 #3,604
2004 modern 1,663 #3,649
2005 modern 1,625 #3,680
2006 modern 1,598 #3,739
2007 modern 1,606 #3,756
2008 modern 1,625 #3,747
2009 modern 1,686 #3,709
2010 modern 1,726 #3,697
2011 modern 1,688 #3,728
2012 modern 1,676 #3,692
2013 modern 1,676 #3,747
2014 modern 1,680 #3,758
2015 modern 1,644 #3,797
2016 modern 1,629 #3,819

Geography

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Where Welfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brill, London parishes, Dinton with Ford, Upton, Aston Mollins, and Moreton), Stranton and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, Redcar and Cleveland, Ryedale and County Durham. 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 Brill Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dinton with Ford, Upton, Aston Mollins, and Moreton) Buckinghamshire
4 Stranton Durham
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 002 Scarborough
2 Redcar and Cleveland 016 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Ryedale 002 Ryedale
4 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
5 County Durham 058 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Welford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Welford

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Welford is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Welford is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Welford 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 Welford 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Welford

The surname Welford originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name Welford, which is found in several counties across England, including Berkshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire.

The name Welford is thought to be derived from the Old English words "welle" and "ford," meaning "well" and "ford" respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a settlement located near a ford or crossing point of a river or stream that was close to a well or spring.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Welford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions several places with the name Welford, indicating that the name was already well-established by the late 11th century.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Welford has been spelled in various ways, such as Weleford, Welleford, and Wellford, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

One notable individual with the surname Welford was Sir William Welford (c. 1490 - 1548), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of Recorder of London.

Another prominent figure was John Welford (1610 - 1673), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Whitchurch in Shropshire and published several theological works.

In the 18th century, William Welford (1738 - 1815) was a noted English painter and engraver, known for his landscapes and etchings of rural scenes.

The 19th century saw the birth of Richard Griffith Welford (1832 - 1903), an English historian and antiquarian who authored several books on the history and antiquities of Northumberland and Durham.

More recently, John Welford (1920 - 2004) was a British actor who appeared in numerous films and television series, including roles in popular shows like "Coronation Street" and "Doctor Who."

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the surname Welford in various regions of England and its association with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including law, religion, art, and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Welford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Welford 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 285 Welfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.54x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 285 3.54x
Durham 109 4.50x
Buckinghamshire 99 20.13x
Middlesex 74 0.91x
Northumberland 57 4.71x
Northamptonshire 39 5.10x
Oxfordshire 38 7.56x
Lancashire 21 0.22x
Surrey 21 0.53x
Leicestershire 12 1.33x
Kent 10 0.36x
Warwickshire 10 0.49x
Huntingdonshire 9 5.57x
Cheshire 8 0.45x
Berkshire 7 1.15x
Essex 6 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.55x
Cumberland 5 0.71x
Gloucestershire 3 0.19x
Sussex 3 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.39x
Hampshire 2 0.12x
Herefordshire 2 0.60x
Bedfordshire 1 0.24x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Devon 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.19x
Hertfordshire 1 0.18x
Westmorland 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dinton in Buckinghamshire leads with 60 Welfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 3108.81x.

Place Total Index
Dinton 60 3108.81x
Roxby 50 9615.38x
Glaisdale 18 586.32x
Islington London 18 2.28x
Byker 17 28.41x
Hinderwell 17 247.09x
Barnard Castle 16 133.78x
Brill 16 443.21x
Newton Mulgrave 14 6363.64x
Bishopwearmouth 13 6.26x
Egton 13 368.27x
Elswick 11 11.39x
Stockton On Tees 11 9.43x
Stranton 11 13.50x
Brancepeth 10 227.27x
Brotton 10 95.06x
Lofthouse 10 83.06x
Oxford St Thomas 10 42.64x
Auckland St Andrew 9 140.85x
Paddington London 9 3.01x
Pinchinthorpe 9 2727.27x
Ramsey 9 69.61x
Aislaby In Pickering 8 2105.26x
Chelsea London 8 3.26x
Evenwood Barony 8 97.21x
Falsgrave 8 67.34x
Henley On Thames 8 77.75x
Hilton 8 2105.26x
Newcastle On Tyne St 8 12.75x
Northampton Priory St 8 17.42x
Wolsingham 8 36.26x
Birkenhead 7 4.89x
Foston 7 5833.33x
Hexham 7 37.37x
Limehouse London 7 7.84x
Liverton 7 376.34x
Middlesbrough 7 6.67x
Ormesby 7 32.30x
Aylesbury 6 27.54x
Borrowby In Whitby 6 2400.00x
Coxlodge 6 65.22x
Deddington 6 110.09x
Foleshill 6 27.80x
Kensington London 6 1.33x
Longbenton 6 11.70x
Pocklington 6 78.84x
Skinningrove 6 121.21x
Ugglebarnby 6 550.46x
Abingdon St Nicholas 5 294.12x
Barnby 5 909.09x
Clapham 5 4.92x
Farthinghoe 5 505.05x
Hackney London 5 1.10x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 5 186.57x
Hucknall Torkard 5 17.98x
Hutton Mulgrave 5 2083.33x
Linthorpe 5 10.39x
Manningham 5 5.03x
Mickleby 5 1063.83x
Naseby 5 294.12x
Over Darwen 5 6.48x
Oxford St Clement 5 39.43x
Penrith 5 19.32x
St Marylebone London 5 1.15x
Stone 5 130.89x
Thornley 5 57.08x
Birmingham 4 0.59x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 4 62.50x
Cold Ashby 4 425.53x
Conside Knitsley 4 21.25x
Hawnby 4 625.00x
Lambeth 4 0.56x
Nether Winchendon 4 555.56x
Northfleet 4 16.36x
Pickering 4 39.41x
Rayleigh 4 108.11x
Sedgefield 4 46.35x
Sheffield 4 1.56x
Soothill 4 13.74x
North Meols 3 3.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 71
Elizabeth 33
Sarah 30
Jane 22
Ann 21
Hannah 18
Annie 15
Emma 14
Ellen 13
Alice 11
Ada 9
Margaret 9
Eliza 8
Emily 7
Edith 6
Harriet 6
Maria 5
Martha 5
Anne 4
Clara 4
Eliz. 4
Esther 4
Fanny 4
Harriett 4
Isabella 4
Ruth 4
Agnes 3
Betsy 3
Isabel 3
Kate 3
Susan 3
Anna 2
Barbara 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Dorothy 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Evelyn 2
Frances 2
Georgina 2
Helena 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
May 2
Susannah 2
Eliz.E. 1
Eliz.Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 58
John 48
George 34
Thomas 27
James 25
Joseph 20
Robert 20
Charles 15
Henry 9
Ralph 9
Thos. 9
Alfred 7
Albert 6
Herbert 6
Arthur 5
Amos 4
Edward 4
Francis 4
Isaac 4
Matthew 4
Walter 4
Addison 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Horace 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Bengamin 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Jno. 2
Tom 2
Wilfred 2
Affred 1
Benjamin 1
Birchall 1
Bob 1
Eli 1
Ezra 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Robt. 1
Infant 1
Issac 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Woodhall 1

FAQ

Welford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Welford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 842 people were recorded with the Welford surname. That placed it at #4,478 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Welford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,629 in 2016. That gives Welford a modern rank of #3,819.

What does the Welford surname mean?

A locative surname originating from Welford, a place name in England.

What does the Welford map show?

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