UK surname
A topographic surname derived from the Old English word "welle" meaning a wellspring or natural spring.
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Welles surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #24,104 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lewisham and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Welles is 204 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 86.6%.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
204 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Welles surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Welles surname density by area, 1891 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 | 40 | #26,118 |
| 1861 | historical | 204 | #11,814 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1891 | historical | 141 | #19,108 |
| 1901 | historical | 26 | #31,152 |
| 1911 | historical | 56 | #27,216 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 9 | #37,302 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lewisham, Tunbridge, Bidborough, St Pancras and St Marylebone. 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 1 |
| 2 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Welles 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 Welles, 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 Welles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Welles 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, Welles 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 Welles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Welles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Welles originated in England, first appearing in records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "welle" and "wiell," meaning a well or spring of water. Many places in England were named after wells, such as Welles in Norfolk, and this surname likely originated from a person who lived near or was associated with such a location.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Welles can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holders in England and parts of Wales. This suggests that the name had already been established by the time of the Norman conquest in 1066.
In the 13th century, a notable individual with the surname Welles was Adam de Welles, who was the Lord Chancellor of England from 1265 to 1268 during the reign of King Henry III. Another early bearer of the name was John Welles, who was a member of the English Parliament in 1301 and represented Somerset.
During the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century, a prominent figure named Sir Robert Welles led the Lincolnshire Rebellion against King Edward IV in 1470. Although the rebellion was ultimately crushed, Sir Robert Welles played a significant role in this historical event.
In the 16th century, a renowned playwright named John Welles was born in England around 1530. He is known for his plays "The Old Wives Tale" and "The Pardoneres Tale," which were published in 1595.
Another noteworthy individual with the surname Welles was Gideon Welles, who was born in 1802 in Connecticut, United States. He served as the Secretary of the Navy under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1869.
Orson Welles, the acclaimed American actor, director, and writer, was born in 1915 in Wisconsin. He is best known for his groundbreaking film "Citizen Kane" and for his iconic voice work in radio and television.
Throughout history, the surname Welles has also been associated with various place names, such as Welles in Somerset, Welles in Lincolnshire, and Welles in Norfolk, all of which were likely named after natural wells or springs in those areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Welles 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 24 Welles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 24 | 3.62x |
| Kent | 11 | 4.86x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.79x |
| Oxfordshire | 6 | 14.65x |
| Northamptonshire | 5 | 8.02x |
| Essex | 3 | 2.29x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 4.08x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.25x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.79x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.13x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.98x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 12.66x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 10 Welles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.73x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Pancras London | 10 | 18.73x |
| Tonbridge | 8 | 98.04x |
| Islington London | 7 | 10.89x |
| Witney | 6 | 882.35x |
| Earls Barton | 5 | 943.40x |
| Barkby | 3 | 2142.86x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 7.08x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 8.14x |
| South Shoebury | 3 | 566.04x |
| Brighton | 2 | 8.87x |
| Kingston On Thames | 2 | 25.77x |
| Rolvenden | 2 | 689.66x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 6.85x |
| Cheam | 1 | 285.71x |
| East Molesey | 1 | 133.33x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.73x |
| Leith South | 1 | 833.33x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.09x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 26.67x |
| Norwich St Mary At Coslany | 1 | 344.83x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 4.10x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 14.79x |
| Salford | 1 | 4.32x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 7.50x |
| St Botolph Aldgate | 1 | 109.89x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 11.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Welles 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 Welles 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 Welles households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| A.B. | 1 |
| Assistant (Sch Mistress) | 1 |
| Assistant Butcher | 1 |
| Blanket Makers Clerk | 1 |
| Captain Forecastle | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drugists Porter | 1 |
| Engine Turner | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Fireman | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Hackney Carriage Driver | 1 |
| Hoop Maker | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Labourers Daughter | 1 |
| Labr | 1 |
| Late Lieut Col W Kent J P | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Mariners Wife | 1 |
| Messenger | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Plate Layer | 1 |
| Ropemaker | 1 |
| Schoolmistress | 1 |
| Scullery Maid | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Servant (Page) | 1 |
| Shopman | 1 |
| Stable Man | 1 |
| Watch Case Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Welles surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Welles a modern rank of #37,705.
A topographic surname derived from the Old English word "welle" meaning a wellspring or natural spring.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Welles 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.