NameCensus.

UK surname

Welling

Derived from a place name meaning "spring" or "stream," likely referring to someone who lived near a spring or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 417 people recorded with the Welling surname, ranking it #7,732 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 639, ranked #8,280, down from #7,732 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Dacorum and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Welling is 654 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.2%.

1881 census count

417

Ranked #7,732

Modern count

639

2016, ranked #8,280

Peak year

1998

654 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Welling had 417 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,732 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 639 in 2016, ranked #8,280.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 573 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Welling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Welling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Welling 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 255 #8,652
1861 historical 312 #8,127
1881 historical 417 #7,732
1891 historical 497 #7,465
1901 historical 505 #7,988
1911 historical 573 #7,078
1997 modern 627 #7,894
1998 modern 654 #7,865
1999 modern 654 #7,914
2000 modern 611 #8,322
2001 modern 590 #8,392
2002 modern 631 #8,152
2003 modern 590 #8,436
2004 modern 619 #8,152
2005 modern 583 #8,442
2006 modern 564 #8,668
2007 modern 573 #8,644
2008 modern 582 #8,612
2009 modern 602 #8,580
2010 modern 620 #8,568
2011 modern 611 #8,558
2012 modern 626 #8,323
2013 modern 644 #8,275
2014 modern 653 #8,224
2015 modern 647 #8,224
2016 modern 639 #8,280

Geography

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Where Wellings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras, St Dunstan Stepney and Aldbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd, Dacorum, Bristol and New Forest. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Aldbury Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 003 Gwynedd
2 Dacorum 004 Dacorum
3 Bristol 027 Bristol, City of
4 Bristol 038 Bristol, City of
5 New Forest 001 New Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Welling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Welling

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

Welling 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

Welling 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 Welling 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 Welling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Welling

The surname Welling originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "welling," which referred to a natural spring or well. This name likely emerged as a descriptive term for individuals who lived near a prominent well or spring, a common practice in the early development of surnames.

The earliest known record of the surname Welling can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wellinges." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century, though its precise origins may date back even further.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Welling was primarily concentrated in the counties of Hertfordshire and Essex, where many places incorporated the word "well" or "welling" in their names. For instance, the village of Welling in Kent, which was once known as "Wellingis," was likely named after individuals bearing this surname.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Welling surname was John Welling, a landowner from Essex who lived in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Welling, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 15th century (birth and death years unknown).

In the 16th century, the Welling family of Swanscombe, Kent, gained recognition. This branch included Nicholas Welling (c. 1520-1588), a successful cloth merchant, and his son, Sir Thomas Welling (c. 1550-1624), who served as High Sheriff of Kent.

During the English Civil War, Captain John Welling (1605-1681) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and later became a member of Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate Parliament. His grandson, Sir John Welling (1661-1739), was a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament.

Another notable figure was Sir Edmund Welling (1675-1753), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for the borough of Grantham. His descendants continued to be influential in Lincolnshire for several generations.

Throughout its history, the surname Welling has maintained strong ties to England, particularly in the southeastern counties. While the name has spread to other parts of the world through emigration, its roots remain firmly grounded in the medieval English landscape and the Old English word from which it originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Welling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Welling 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. Middlesex leads with 122 Wellings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.95x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 122 2.95x
Surrey 71 3.52x
Hertfordshire 54 18.94x
Sussex 38 5.45x
Lancashire 27 0.55x
Kent 17 1.20x
Shropshire 16 4.48x
Gloucestershire 10 1.23x
Herefordshire 10 5.90x
Devon 8 0.93x
Glamorgan 7 0.97x
Warwickshire 7 0.67x
Worcestershire 7 1.30x
Channel Islands 6 4.90x
Hampshire 4 0.47x
Staffordshire 4 0.29x
Cheshire 3 0.33x
Monmouthshire 3 1.00x
Berkshire 2 0.64x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Dorset 1 0.37x
Essex 1 0.12x
Lincolnshire 1 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 2.03x
Westmorland 1 1.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 20 Wellings recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.22x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 20 14.22x
Aldbury 17 1317.83x
Camberwell 17 6.43x
Bushey 13 191.46x
Rodington 11 1964.29x
St Anne Soho London 11 46.57x
Bethnal Green London 10 5.57x
Bromley London 10 10.99x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 12.01x
St Marylebone London 10 4.53x
Fownhope 9 608.11x
Henfield 9 335.82x
Islington London 9 2.25x
Poplar London 9 11.53x
St Pancras London 8 2.40x
Cardiff St Mary 7 17.65x
Lambeth 7 1.94x
Manchester 7 3.17x
Newington 7 4.58x
Walton On Thames 7 75.68x
Watford 7 31.67x
Widnes 7 19.77x
Canterbury St Mary N 6 631.58x
Mile End Old Town 6 9.19x
Ratcliffe London 6 26.27x
St Peter Port 6 26.47x
Stourbridge 6 43.17x
Aston 5 1.74x
Bermondsey 5 4.06x
Chelsea London 5 4.01x
Edmonton 5 15.00x
Orrell 5 81.97x
Tring 5 65.70x
Westminster St James 5 11.76x
Bexley 4 32.05x
Hemel Hempstead 4 31.13x
Kensington London 4 1.74x
Kingston On Thames 4 8.26x
Marytavy 4 314.96x
Northchurch 4 131.58x
Rotherhithe 4 7.83x
Shrewsbury St Mary 4 28.37x
St Giles In Fields 4 28.03x
Streatham 4 13.03x
Whitechapel London 4 9.81x
Bramber 3 1153.85x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 3.93x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.76x
Little Gaddesden 3 566.04x
Portsea 3 1.81x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 3 28.57x
Rowley Regis 3 7.71x
Shoreditch London 3 1.67x
St George Hanover 3 5.56x
Steyning 3 127.12x
Bedwellty 2 3.79x
Bow London 2 3.80x
Bristol Christchurch 2 169.49x
Crayford 2 32.47x
Drighlington 2 33.50x
Hackney London 2 0.86x
Little Bolton 2 3.17x
Quedgley 2 294.12x
St Andrew Holborn 2 14.27x
Toxteth Park 2 1.20x
Arreton 1 36.76x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 2.71x
Birmingham 1 0.29x
Bitton 1 14.16x
Burghill 1 52.08x
Cheriton 1 17.39x
Child Okeford 1 83.33x
Edgbaston 1 3.09x
Everton 1 0.64x
Horsham 1 7.38x
Lancing 1 52.08x
Northfleet 1 8.05x
Old Windsor 1 27.86x
Stoke 1 10.52x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Eliza 22
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 11
Emma 9
Alice 7
Charlotte 6
Emily 6
Caroline 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Ann 4
Clara 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Anne 3
Flora 3
Katharine 3
Martha 3
Sophia 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Laura 2
Louise 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Rosina 2
Ruth 2
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Carolina 1
Emm 1
Ethel 1
Ethelinda 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Joanna 1
Lilian 1
Love 1
Malrina 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 20
Thomas 18
Henry 14
George 12
Frederick 11
Charles 9
Edward 7
James 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Albert 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Robert 3
David 2
Edwin 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Jasper 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
(Mr) 1
Alf.W. 1
Danl.E. 1
Edmund 1
F.C. 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Gysbertus 1
H.F. 1
H.N. 1
Harold 1
Harvey 1
Llewellyn 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Nelson 1
Percy 1
Rich 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Sohann 1
Thos. 1
Walker 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Welling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Welling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 417 people were recorded with the Welling surname. That placed it at #7,732 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Welling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 639 in 2016. That gives Welling a modern rank of #8,280.

What does the Welling surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "spring" or "stream," likely referring to someone who lived near a spring or stream.

What does the Welling map show?

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