NameCensus.

UK surname

Wellwood

A habitation name denoting someone who lived near a plentiful water source.

In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Wellwood surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, down from #18,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ19, IZ18 and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wellwood is 129 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.1%.

1881 census count

115

Ranked #18,230

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

1901

129 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wellwood had 115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Wellwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wellwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wellwood 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 54 #23,577
1861 historical 100 #21,103
1881 historical 115 #18,230
1891 historical 120 #21,292
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 38 #29,147
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 116 #25,487
2000 modern 125 #24,351
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 116 #25,632
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 94 #29,264
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 95 #29,822
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 111 #28,986
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Wellwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Edinburgh, Manchester, Wigan and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ19, IZ18, Hackney, Melton and South Angus. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ19 East Lothian
2 IZ18 East Lothian
3 Hackney 016 Hackney
4 Melton 001 Melton
5 South Angus Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wellwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wellwood

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wellwood 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

Wellwood is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wellwood falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wellwood is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wellwood

The surname Wellwood originated in Scotland during the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words "well" and "wudu," meaning "well" and "wood" respectively, indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a well or spring in a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the ancient Scottish manuscript known as the Ragman Rolls, which dates back to 1296. This document lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, and among them is a "William de Wellewod."

In the 15th century, the name appears in various records and charters across Scotland, with spellings such as "Wellwod," "Welwod," and "Welwode." These variations reflect the fluid nature of spelling during that time period.

The Wellwood surname has its roots in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. There are several place names in these areas that incorporate the word "wellwood," such as the village of Wellwood in East Ayrshire, suggesting a connection between the name and specific geographic locations.

Notable individuals bearing the Wellwood surname include:

1. Robert Wellwood (c. 1630-1696), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and theologian who served as a professor of theology at the University of Glasgow.

2. Sir Henry Moncreiff Wellwood (1809-1900), a Scottish judge and Lord of Session in the Court of Session.

3. Wilfred Wellwood (1888-1972), a Canadian ice hockey player and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, known for his time with the Toronto Blueshirts and Toronto Maple Leafs.

4. Andrew Wellwood (1913-1995), a Scottish footballer who played for various clubs, including Rangers and Hibernian.

5. Colin Wellwood (born 1983), a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for several NHL teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks.

The Wellwood surname has a rich history rooted in Scotland's medieval past, with its origins likely related to geographic features and locations. Over the centuries, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, judges, athletes, and more.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wellwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wellwood 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. Lanarkshire leads with 46 Wellwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.68x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 46 12.68x
Lancashire 22 1.65x
Fife 18 27.10x
Midlothian 8 5.32x
Renfrewshire 6 6.90x
Durham 3 0.90x
Cheshire 2 0.81x
Middlesex 2 0.18x
Warwickshire 2 0.71x
West Lothian 2 11.84x
Ayrshire 1 1.19x
Kent 1 0.26x
Selkirkshire 1 9.85x
Shetland 1 8.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 33 Wellwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.94x.

Place Total Index
Barony 33 35.94x
Dunfermline 17 166.50x
Shotts 11 253.46x
Wigan 9 48.39x
Toxteth Park 8 17.75x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 9.92x
Neilston 6 137.61x
Salford 4 10.22x
South Shields 3 101.01x
Birmingham 2 2.12x
Dalmeny 2 307.69x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 64.10x
Glasgow 2 3.10x
Macclesfield 2 18.17x
Dysart 1 22.37x
Frindsbury 1 69.44x
Kilwinning 1 36.90x
Lerwick Gulberwick 1 56.50x
Melrose 1 39.22x
Tottenham 1 5.60x
Walton On Hill 1 13.87x
Westminster St 1 24.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Daniel 1
E. 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
James 1
Robt. 1
William 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 Wellwood households.

FAQ

Wellwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wellwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Wellwood surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wellwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Wellwood a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Wellwood surname mean?

A habitation name denoting someone who lived near a plentiful water source.

What does the Wellwood map show?

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