NameCensus.

UK surname

Wellock

An English surname possibly derived from a place name or an occupational surname referring to a walker or wool worker.

In the 1881 census there were 335 people recorded with the Wellock surname, ranking it #9,016 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 311, ranked #14,376, down from #9,016 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bingley and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, Pendle and Skye North West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wellock is 412 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.2%.

1881 census count

335

Ranked #9,016

Modern count

311

2016, ranked #14,376

Peak year

1911

412 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wellock had 335 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,016 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 311 in 2016, ranked #14,376.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 412 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wellock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wellock surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wellock 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 185 #11,077
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 335 #9,016
1891 historical 337 #10,133
1901 historical 365 #10,113
1911 historical 412 #9,097
1997 modern 308 #13,297
1998 modern 324 #13,189
1999 modern 324 #13,288
2000 modern 326 #13,188
2001 modern 320 #13,143
2002 modern 322 #13,354
2003 modern 318 #13,291
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 298 #13,895
2006 modern 295 #14,053
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 302 #14,069
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 316 #14,092
2012 modern 315 #14,031
2013 modern 338 #13,508
2014 modern 325 #14,030
2015 modern 310 #14,402
2016 modern 311 #14,376

Geography

Back to top

Where Wellocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bingley, Bradford, Keighley and Kirkby Malham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, Pendle and Skye North West. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bingley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kirkby Malham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 002 Craven
2 Pendle 002 Pendle
3 Skye North West Highland
4 Craven 004 Craven
5 Craven 008 Craven

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wellock

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wellock

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

Wellock 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

Wellock falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wellock

The surname Wellock is of English origin, emerging in the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place called Wellock or a similar spelling variation. This place name likely originated from the Old English word "wella" meaning a spring or stream, combined with the Old English word "locc" meaning an enclosure or lock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wellock can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where a John de Wellock was mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in Yorkshire by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the Wellock surname appeared in several historical records. For instance, a Richard Wellock was listed in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1459. Another notable individual was John Wellock, who was mentioned in the Register of the Gild of Corpus Christi in York in 1489.

During the 16th century, the surname Wellock continued to be documented in various English records. One prominent figure was Thomas Wellock, a merchant and alderman of the city of York, who was born in 1520 and died in 1586.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals with the Wellock surname. One such person was Robert Wellock, a scholar and theologian who was born in 1609 and served as the Rector of Houghton-le-Spring in Durham.

In the 18th century, the name Wellock was associated with various locations across England. For example, the Wellock Hill in Derbyshire was mentioned in several historical documents from this period.

Throughout history, the surname Wellock has been spelled in various ways, including Wellocc, Wellocke, and Welloke. This reflects the evolution of the English language and the variations in spelling conventions over time.

While the surname Wellock is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period and has been associated with various notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wellock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wellock 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. Yorkshire leads with 197 Wellocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.07x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 197 6.07x
Lancashire 94 2.42x
Warwickshire 11 1.33x
Cheshire 8 1.11x
Durham 8 0.82x
Hampshire 6 0.89x
Berkshire 4 1.63x
Gloucestershire 3 0.47x
Kent 2 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.50x
Essex 1 0.15x
Leicestershire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Little Marsden in Lancashire leads with 18 Wellocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.01x.

Place Total Index
Great Little Marsden 18 101.01x
Manningham 16 39.99x
Bewerley 15 1119.40x
Bradford 14 17.81x
Barnoldswick 12 264.90x
Royton 12 100.84x
Templenewsam 12 510.64x
Aston 11 4.83x
Embsay Cum Eastby 11 839.69x
Oldham 11 8.76x
Burnley 9 27.48x
Bury 9 20.26x
Kirkby Malham 9 5625.00x
Leeds 9 4.91x
Habergham Eaves 8 22.50x
Shipley 8 47.48x
Bingley 7 33.85x
Eccleshill 7 88.61x
Kildwick 7 236.49x
Stanlow 7 35000.00x
Falsgrave 6 125.26x
Hartlepool 6 43.29x
Hebden 6 1714.29x
Cononley 5 537.63x
Midgley 5 144.51x
Stirton Cum Thorlby 5 2777.78x
West Halton 5 3125.00x
Brogden With Admirgill 4 3333.33x
Hulme 4 4.93x
Hungerford 4 120.12x
Pudsey 4 23.04x
Rilston 4 2666.67x
Stretford 4 18.69x
West Derby 4 3.52x
Accrington 3 8.48x
Basing 3 238.10x
Bowling 3 9.33x
Glusburn 3 163.93x
Salford 3 2.62x
Tonge With Haulgh 3 39.63x
Westbury On Severn East 3 20.65x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 6.48x
Carlton Highdale 2 714.29x
Carlton In Skipton 2 105.26x
Cracoe 2 1428.57x
Droylsden 2 15.76x
Farnhill 2 317.46x
Gainford 2 198.02x
Gargrave 2 137.93x
Sittingbourne 2 22.65x
Andover 1 15.75x
Basingstoke 1 12.94x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 9.00x
Brentwood 1 25.38x
Bromborough 1 66.67x
Dacre 1 138.89x
Foulridge 1 101.01x
Heaton 1 28.65x
Horton In Bradford 1 1.97x
Keighley 1 2.89x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.13x
Linton In Skipton 1 303.03x
Litherland 1 12.30x
Newsholme 1 2000.00x
Padbury 1 169.49x
Settle 1 40.16x
Skipton 1 9.78x
Thornton In Craven 1 38.31x
Whitchurch 1 46.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 14
Ann 7
Jane 7
Martha 7
Annie 6
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Hannah 5
Margaret 5
Agnes 4
Isabella 4
Ellen 3
Grace 3
Maria 3
Nancy 3
Elenor 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Susan 2
Amanda 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Baby 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Elleanor 1
Emilia 1
Emmeline 1
Hanh.M. 1
Harriet 1
Hettie 1
Lavinia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucinda 1
Marg. 1
Mariah 1
Marion 1
Maud 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Sally 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
George 15
William 13
James 12
Thomas 11
Benjamin 9
Robert 8
Richard 6
Albert 5
Christopher 5
David 4
Fred 4
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Harry 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Jeffrey 2
Jno. 2
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Benjiman 1
Charles 1
Dan 1
Elizth. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Hartley 1
Jas. 1
Jenkinson 1
Joshua 1
Lister 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Moses 1
Robinson 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wellock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wellock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 335 people were recorded with the Wellock surname. That placed it at #9,016 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wellock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 311 in 2016. That gives Wellock a modern rank of #14,376.

What does the Wellock surname mean?

An English surname possibly derived from a place name or an occupational surname referring to a walker or wool worker.

What does the Wellock map show?

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