NameCensus.

UK surname

Wellsbury

In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Wellsbury surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 166, ranked #22,140, up from #29,646 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton, South Staffordshire and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wellsbury is 188 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 492.9%.

1881 census count

28

Ranked #29,646

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

2010

188 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wellsbury had 28 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 94 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wellsbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wellsbury surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wellsbury 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 28 #29,646
1891 historical 71 #27,934
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 94 #23,391
1997 modern 148 #21,295
1998 modern 171 #19,956
1999 modern 167 #20,374
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 162 #20,460
2002 modern 175 #19,902
2003 modern 166 #20,320
2004 modern 165 #20,530
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 171 #20,131
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 182 #20,201
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 173 #21,486
2014 modern 172 #21,731
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Wellsburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wolverhampton, South Staffordshire and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wolverhampton 004 Wolverhampton
2 Wolverhampton 001 Wolverhampton
3 Wolverhampton 007 Wolverhampton
4 South Staffordshire 003 South Staffordshire
5 Cheshire West and Chester 007 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wellsbury

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wellsbury

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wellsbury, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Wellsbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wellsbury household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wellsbury is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Wellsbury is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wellsbury falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wellsbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Wellsbury, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Wellsbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wellsbury 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. Worcestershire leads with 12 Wellsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.68x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 12 33.68x
Staffordshire 6 6.51x
Warwickshire 6 8.72x
Lancashire 3 0.93x
Derbyshire 1 2.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Norton in Worcestershire leads with 7 Wellsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 218.75x.

Place Total Index
Kings Norton 7 218.75x
Sedgley 5 146.20x
Sutton Coldfield 5 694.44x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 184.05x
Hartlebury 2 952.38x
Aston 1 5.28x
Derby St Werburgh 1 40.49x
Harborne 1 33.90x
Worcester St John 1 232.56x
Worcester St Martin 1 208.33x
Worcester St Nicholas 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Alice 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
George 3
Harry 2
James 2
John 2
Thomas 2
Henry 1
Willm.J. 1

Top occupations

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 Wellsbury households.

FAQ

Wellsbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wellsbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Wellsbury surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wellsbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Wellsbury a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Wellsbury map show?

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