NameCensus.

UK surname

Wellman

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a spring, stream, or well.

In the 1881 census there were 665 people recorded with the Wellman surname, ranking it #5,412 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 980, ranked #5,894, down from #5,412 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Poole St James and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Poole, Weymouth and Portland and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wellman is 1,012 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.4%.

1881 census count

665

Ranked #5,412

Modern count

980

2016, ranked #5,894

Peak year

1999

1,012 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wellman had 665 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,412 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 980 in 2016, ranked #5,894.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 964 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Wellman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wellman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wellman 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 362 #6,537
1861 historical 298 #8,485
1881 historical 665 #5,412
1891 historical 599 #6,391
1901 historical 810 #5,571
1911 historical 964 #4,686
1997 modern 986 #5,564
1998 modern 1,008 #5,641
1999 modern 1,012 #5,663
2000 modern 988 #5,745
2001 modern 973 #5,701
2002 modern 956 #5,894
2003 modern 959 #5,793
2004 modern 955 #5,822
2005 modern 940 #5,827
2006 modern 946 #5,812
2007 modern 946 #5,873
2008 modern 960 #5,831
2009 modern 970 #5,903
2010 modern 984 #5,953
2011 modern 972 #5,944
2012 modern 956 #5,941
2013 modern 978 #5,920
2014 modern 988 #5,917
2015 modern 972 #5,945
2016 modern 980 #5,894

Geography

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Where Wellmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Poole St James, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), and Dorchester Holy Trinity, Fordington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Poole, Weymouth and Portland, Wirral and East 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 London parishes London 1
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire
5 Dorchester Holy Trinity, Fordington Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Poole 014 Poole
2 Weymouth and Portland 001 Weymouth and Portland
3 Wirral 031 Wirral
4 East Devon 005 East Devon
5 Weymouth and Portland 007 Weymouth and Portland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wellman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wellman

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

Wellman 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

Wellman falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wellman

The surname Wellman is of English origin, emerging in the late medieval period. It is derived from the occupational term "wellman," referring to a person responsible for maintaining and operating a well or water supply for a community or estate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a John le Welleman. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the 14th century, likely evolving from the earlier spelling "Welleman."

In the 15th century, the Wellman surname appeared in various records across different regions of England. For example, the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1443 mention a Thomas Welman, while the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1478 record a John Welman.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Wellman. However, it does mention several places with names containing the root "well," such as Wellebec in Lincolnshire and Wellesberie in Somerset, which may have influenced the development of the surname in those areas.

Notable historical figures bearing the Wellman surname include:

1. William Wellman (1896-1975), an American film director known for classics such as "The Public Enemy" and "A Star Is Born." 2. Walter Wellman (1858-1934), an American explorer who attempted to reach the North Pole by airship in 1907 and 1909. 3. Paul Wellman (1898-1966), an American author and journalist best known for his biographies of historical figures like Kit Carson and Wyatt Earp. 4. Reverend Walter C. Wellman (1859-1937), an American minister and educator who served as the president of Ohio Wesleyan University from 1904 to 1916. 5. Manly Wellman (1859-1946), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Wellman Institute of Industrial Research in 1925.

Over time, the Wellman surname has also been associated with various place names, particularly in England. For example, the village of Wellmanor in Hertfordshire and the hamlet of Wellman's Wood in Kent may have derived their names from individuals or families bearing the Wellman surname in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wellman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wellman 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. Dorset leads with 175 Wellmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.20x.

County Total Index
Dorset 175 40.20x
Berkshire 91 18.28x
Surrey 83 2.57x
Hampshire 77 5.66x
Middlesex 51 0.77x
Somerset 47 4.40x
Wiltshire 24 4.09x
Yorkshire 19 0.29x
Sussex 15 1.34x
Staffordshire 13 0.58x
Channel Islands 12 6.11x
Cheshire 12 0.82x
Glamorgan 11 0.95x
Buckinghamshire 9 2.24x
Kent 7 0.31x
Leicestershire 7 0.95x
Essex 6 0.46x
Lancashire 6 0.08x
Cornwall 4 0.53x
Oxfordshire 4 0.98x
Royal Navy 3 3.80x
Devon 2 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burley in Hampshire leads with 22 Wellmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1527.78x.

Place Total Index
Burley 22 1527.78x
Yeovil 22 101.38x
Fordington 19 202.56x
Thorncombe 17 680.00x
Earley 16 193.00x
Lambeth 16 2.77x
Reading St Giles 15 30.71x
Chard 14 108.28x
Reading St Mary 14 35.11x
Southampton St Mary 14 16.37x
Warmwell 14 3414.63x
Watercombe 14 10000.00x
Abingdon St Helen 13 89.29x
Winterborne St Martin 12 1224.49x
Birkenhead 11 9.42x
Islington London 11 1.71x
Puddletown 11 411.99x
Battersea 10 4.10x
Hove 10 20.38x
Melcombe Regis 10 55.43x
Penge 10 23.60x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 7.49x
Norwood 9 59.33x
St Helier 9 14.06x
Beeching Stoke 8 2105.26x
Bermondsey 8 4.05x
Kinson 8 94.01x
North Stoneham 8 258.90x
Britford 7 180.88x
Camberwell 7 1.65x
Castle Cary 7 150.54x
Datchet 7 255.47x
Deighton In York 7 1555.56x
Kingsclere 7 112.72x
Morden 7 380.43x
Portsea 7 2.63x
South Stoneham 7 23.74x
Upper Penn 7 124.78x
Clewer 6 29.41x
Eling 6 43.57x
Frimley 6 65.15x
Haworth 6 38.41x
Langton Matravers 6 295.57x
Lyme Regis 6 115.16x
Poole St James 6 36.67x
Ramsbury 6 112.99x
Aberdare 5 6.31x
Croydon 5 2.79x
Ealing 5 8.43x
Lambourn 5 101.42x
Lytchett Matravers 5 318.47x
Ashby De La Zouch 4 23.46x
Askerswell 4 851.06x
Boxford 4 310.08x
Broadway 4 231.21x
Buckland Newton 4 205.13x
New Windsor 4 23.89x
Newhaven 4 44.05x
Rotherfield Greys 4 92.17x
Runwell 4 526.32x
St Marylebone London 4 1.13x
St Pancras London 4 0.75x
Stainland Cum Old 4 35.56x
Swansea Higher 4 33.25x
Tolpuddle 4 579.71x
Upway 4 240.96x
Wallingford St Leonard 4 172.41x
Wolverhampton 4 2.32x
Catmore 3 1500.00x
Corscombe 3 202.70x
Dorking 3 13.82x
Gerrans 3 147.78x
Leicester St Martin 3 60.73x
Mitcham 3 14.68x
Osmington 3 344.83x
Royal Navy 3 4.44x
St Peter Port 3 8.25x
Tottenham 3 2.84x
Woodsford 3 714.29x
Reading St Lawrence 2 18.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 30
Jane 16
Annie 14
Emily 13
Sarah 13
Eliza 12
Emma 12
Ann 10
Caroline 9
Ellen 9
Margaret 8
Martha 8
Louisa 7
Ada 6
Fanny 6
Rose 6
Anne 5
Edith 5
Harriet 5
Maria 5
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Hannah 4
Harriett 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Rebecca 4
Susan 4
Anna 3
Bessie 2
Eleanor 2
Eva 2
Florence 2
Jessie 2
Maud 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Violet 2
Alace 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Bithea 1
Dora 1
Eda 1
Effie 1
Elizth. 1
Hester 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
John 27
George 26
Thomas 22
Charles 21
Henry 18
James 18
Frederick 16
Alfred 13
Edward 10
Joseph 10
Robert 8
Frank 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Francis 3
Leonard 3
Samuel 3
Ambrose 2
Benjamin 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Anthony 1
Archibald 1
Chas. 1
Claude 1
Cornstius 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Elenour 1
Evan 1
Evelyn 1
Frankie 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.W. 1
Jesse 1
Jessy 1
M. 1
Magg 1
Martin 1
Mary 1
Oliver 1

FAQ

Wellman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wellman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 665 people were recorded with the Wellman surname. That placed it at #5,412 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wellman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 980 in 2016. That gives Wellman a modern rank of #5,894.

What does the Wellman surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a spring, stream, or well.

What does the Wellman map show?

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