NameCensus.

UK surname

Welland

An English surname originating from the town of Welland, Worcestershire or other places of the same name.

In the 1881 census there were 363 people recorded with the Welland surname, ranking it #8,545 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 725, ranked #7,499, up from #8,545 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, London parishes and Richmond. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tandridge, Haringey and Waverley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Welland is 762 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 99.7%.

1881 census count

363

Ranked #8,545

Modern count

725

2016, ranked #7,499

Peak year

2014

762 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Welland had 363 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,545 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 725 in 2016, ranked #7,499.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 601 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Welland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Welland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Welland 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 201 #10,364
1861 historical 226 #10,797
1881 historical 363 #8,545
1891 historical 393 #8,995
1901 historical 497 #8,090
1911 historical 601 #6,832
1997 modern 692 #7,314
1998 modern 721 #7,307
1999 modern 705 #7,474
2000 modern 712 #7,401
2001 modern 713 #7,263
2002 modern 717 #7,369
2003 modern 693 #7,444
2004 modern 711 #7,305
2005 modern 715 #7,202
2006 modern 706 #7,301
2007 modern 715 #7,308
2008 modern 700 #7,485
2009 modern 722 #7,451
2010 modern 735 #7,487
2011 modern 715 #7,570
2012 modern 715 #7,487
2013 modern 750 #7,344
2014 modern 762 #7,268
2015 modern 748 #7,315
2016 modern 725 #7,499

Geography

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Where Wellands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, London parishes, Richmond, Chiddingfold, Haslemere and Uffculme. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tandridge, Haringey, Waverley, Rushmoor and North Devon. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 London parishes London 1
3 Richmond Surrey
4 Chiddingfold, Haslemere Surrey
5 Uffculme Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tandridge 007 Tandridge
2 Haringey 028 Haringey
3 Waverley 011 Waverley
4 Rushmoor 007 Rushmoor
5 North Devon 005 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Welland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Welland

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Welland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Welland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Welland is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Welland is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Welland falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Welland

The surname Welland is of English origin, derived from the place name Welland, a village in Worcestershire, England. The name likely dates back to the 11th century or earlier and is thought to originate from the Old English words "well" and "land," meaning a piece of land near a well or water source.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the village of Welland is recorded as "Wellelande," reflecting the earlier spelling variation. This document provides one of the earliest known references to the name and its connection to the village.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Welland was John Welland, born around 1290 in Welland, Worcestershire. Records show that he was a landowner and farmer in the area.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Welland (1455-1518), a wealthy wool merchant and landowner from Worcestershire. He served as the Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1502 and was a prominent figure in the local community.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the parish records of several villages in Worcestershire, suggesting its continued association with the region.

Richard Welland (1671-1738), born in Welland, Worcestershire, was a respected clergyman and author of several religious texts, including "The Doctrine of the Sacraments" (1701).

Moving forward in time, Sir Anthony Welland (1804-1876), born in Gloucestershire, was a prominent politician and served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset from 1852 to 1865.

During the 19th century, the Welland family had established branches in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset, although the name remained closely tied to its Worcestershire roots.

It's worth noting that the name Welland is also associated with the Welland River in Ontario, Canada, which was likely named after the village in Worcestershire by early English settlers in the region.

Throughout history, the surname Welland has maintained its connection to its origins in the English village of the same name, reflecting the enduring legacy of place names in the formation of surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Welland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Welland 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. Surrey leads with 118 Wellands recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.84x.

County Total Index
Surrey 118 6.84x
Middlesex 96 2.71x
Devon 62 8.41x
Worcestershire 17 3.68x
Somerset 16 2.81x
Kent 11 0.91x
Sussex 10 1.68x
Gloucestershire 7 1.01x
Leicestershire 6 1.53x
Yorkshire 5 0.14x
Hampshire 4 0.55x
Hertfordshire 4 1.64x
Berkshire 3 1.13x
Lancashire 3 0.07x
Cheshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Godalming in Surrey leads with 29 Wellands recorded in 1881 and an index of 267.04x.

Place Total Index
Godalming 29 267.04x
Plymouth St Andrew 27 47.55x
Islington London 22 6.41x
Hackney London 21 10.58x
Uffculme 15 681.82x
Kensington London 14 7.11x
Peper Harow 11 6111.11x
Richmond 10 41.36x
Godstone 9 291.26x
Hambledon 9 491.80x
Hammersmith London 9 10.32x
Peopleton 9 2727.27x
Berrow 7 1296.30x
Culmstock 7 673.08x
Pershore St Andrew 7 274.51x
Edmonton 6 21.03x
Esher 6 247.93x
Haslemere 6 441.18x
St Giles In Fields 6 49.14x
Woolwich 6 13.44x
Frome 5 36.68x
Thornton In Bradford 5 42.81x
Wonersh 5 232.56x
Aston 4 579.71x
Chulmleigh 4 238.10x
Humberstone 4 123.84x
North Chapel 4 416.67x
Reigate Foreign 4 21.41x
Rotherhithe 4 9.14x
Stonehouse East 4 106.95x
Thursley 4 322.58x
Walton On Thames 4 50.51x
Ashchurch 3 370.37x
Bermondsey 3 2.85x
Clapham 3 6.78x
Kirdford 3 144.93x
Lewes St Ann 3 147.78x
Nailsea 3 133.33x
Shoreditch London 3 1.95x
St Andrew Holborn 3 25.00x
St Budeaux 3 131.00x
St Pancras London 3 1.05x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 8.64x
Camberwell 2 0.88x
Fawley 2 86.96x
Greenwich 2 3.55x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.09x
Paddington London 2 1.54x
Putney 2 12.39x
Reading St Lawrence 2 35.15x
Stapleton 2 15.19x
Westminster St James 2 5.49x
Alverstoke 1 3.81x
Ash Normandy 1 42.74x
Battersea 1 0.77x
Beckenham 1 6.33x
Burnley 1 2.83x
Caterham 1 13.11x
Chelsea London 1 0.94x
Claughton With Grange 1 28.09x
Croydon 1 1.04x
Dover St James 1 18.90x
East Hendred 1 101.01x
Elstead 1 120.48x
Frimley 1 20.33x
Fulham London 1 1.95x
Littleham 1 18.55x
Liverpool 1 0.39x
Margate St John Baptist 1 4.52x
Meon Stoke 1 175.44x
Naunton Beauchamp 1 625.00x
Pleasington 1 178.57x
Shalford 1 52.36x
St George Hanover 1 2.16x
St Marylebone London 1 0.53x
Stoke Newington London 1 3.63x
Talaton 1 178.57x
Yatton 1 45.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 10
Eliza 8
Emily 7
Ann 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Fanny 5
Hannah 5
Emma 4
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Lydia 3
Maria 3
Ruth 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Elisa 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Evelina 1
Eveline 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Imperance 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Josephine 1
Lavinia 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Marianne 1
Martha 1
Willhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 27
William 27
John 18
James 11
Henry 10
Thomas 10
Charles 8
Arthur 7
Alfred 6
Frederick 6
Francis 5
Frank 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Edwin 2
Joseph 2
Ralph 2
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Horace 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Matthew 1
Percivel 1
Percy 1
Pickles 1
Richard 1
Roger 1
Saml. 1
Tom 1
Walton 1
Wm. 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Welland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Welland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 363 people were recorded with the Welland surname. That placed it at #8,545 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Welland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 725 in 2016. That gives Welland a modern rank of #7,499.

What does the Welland surname mean?

An English surname originating from the town of Welland, Worcestershire or other places of the same name.

What does the Welland map show?

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