UK surname
A surname derived from the word "wellen" meaning "waves" or "billows" in German.
In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Wellen surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #24,420 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Godalming, Berwick Salome, Brightwell Salome (Watlington, Oxfordshire), Bensington, and Ewelme and East Grinstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wellen is 131 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.5%.
1881 census count
65
Ranked #24,420
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1861
131 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wellen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wellen surname density by area, 1911 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 131 | #17,052 |
| 1881 | historical | 65 | #24,420 |
| 1891 | historical | 118 | #21,540 |
| 1901 | historical | 90 | #24,021 |
| 1911 | historical | 121 | #20,336 |
| 1997 | modern | 69 | #30,712 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 69 | #31,223 |
| 2000 | modern | 73 | #30,881 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 70 | #31,432 |
| 2003 | modern | 65 | #31,979 |
| 2004 | modern | 69 | #31,784 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 62 | #33,346 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 62 | #33,832 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 67 | #33,840 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Godalming, Berwick Salome, Brightwell Salome (Watlington, Oxfordshire), Bensington, and Ewelme, East Grinstead, Middleton and London parishes. 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 | Godalming | Surrey |
| 2 | Berwick Salome, Brightwell Salome (Watlington, Oxfordshire), Bensington, and Ewelme | Berkshire |
| 3 | East Grinstead | Sussex |
| 4 | Middleton | Lancashire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wellen 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 Wellen, 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 Wellen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wellen 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, Wellen 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 Wellen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wellen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wellen is of German origin and is believed to have originated in the 14th century. It is derived from the German word "welle," which means "wave" or "undulation." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a body of water with wavy patterns or undulating currents.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wellen can be found in the town records of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a well-preserved medieval town in Bavaria, Germany. The records mention a certain Hainrich Wellen, who was a local merchant and landowner in the late 15th century.
The name Wellen also appears in the Salzburg Monastery Records, a collection of documents dating back to the 13th century. These records mention a nun named Bertha Wellen, who joined the monastery in the year 1347.
In the 16th century, the Wellen surname was associated with a prominent family of weavers and textile merchants based in the city of Cologne. The family's coat of arms featured a wavy pattern, likely a reference to the meaning of their surname.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the Wellen surname in England can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. These records mention a certain William Wellen, who was baptized in the year 1582.
Notable individuals with the surname Wellen throughout history include:
1. Johann Wellen (1604-1672), a German composer and organist who was active in the city of Nuremberg during the Baroque period. 2. Gottfried Wellen (1712-1785), a German painter known for his landscapes and portraits, many of which can be found in museums across Germany. 3. Sophia Wellen (1824-1897), a German-American pioneer and philanthropist who settled in the state of Wisconsin in the mid-19th century and founded several schools and charitable organizations. 4. Karl Wellen (1869-1934), an Austrian engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in the field of electrical engineering and telecommunications. 5. Ingrid Wellen (1919-2004), a German actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions during the mid-20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wellen 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. Surrey leads with 19 Wellens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.06x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 19 | 6.06x |
| Dorset | 14 | 33.14x |
| Sussex | 12 | 11.06x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 3.22x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 3.79x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.96x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.23x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.46x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.13x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.16x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spetisbury in Dorset leads with 14 Wellens recorded in 1881 and an index of 11666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Spetisbury | 14 | 11666.67x |
| Fernhurst | 8 | 3333.33x |
| Godalming | 8 | 406.09x |
| Colwich | 7 | 1346.15x |
| Wandsworth | 6 | 96.77x |
| Portsea | 5 | 19.34x |
| Guildford Holy Trinity | 2 | 333.33x |
| North Chapel | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Old Monkland | 2 | 24.21x |
| Rottingdean | 2 | 540.54x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 5.99x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.85x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 10.27x |
| Croydon | 1 | 5.74x |
| Ipswich St Mathew | 1 | 45.45x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 25.06x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 9.84x |
| Reigate Foreign | 1 | 29.41x |
| Southwark St Thomas | 1 | 588.24x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 12.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wellen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wellen 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 Wellen households.
FAQ
In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Wellen surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Wellen a modern rank of #33,948.
A surname derived from the word "wellen" meaning "waves" or "billows" in German.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wellen 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.