UK surname
A topographic surname suggesting someone who lived near a well or spring.
In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Welman surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 94, ranked #31,871, down from #20,467 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Godalming, Lambourn and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Welman is 146 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.
1881 census count
94
Ranked #20,467
Modern count
94
2016, ranked #31,871
Peak year
1901
146 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Welman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Welman surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 117 | #15,456 |
| 1861 | historical | 91 | #22,206 |
| 1881 | historical | 94 | #20,467 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 146 | #18,335 |
| 1911 | historical | 93 | #23,492 |
| 1997 | modern | 64 | #31,233 |
| 1998 | modern | 69 | #31,076 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 73 | #30,881 |
| 2001 | modern | 75 | #30,481 |
| 2002 | modern | 74 | #31,048 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 79 | #30,799 |
| 2005 | modern | 84 | #30,359 |
| 2006 | modern | 87 | #30,292 |
| 2007 | modern | 90 | #30,228 |
| 2008 | modern | 89 | #30,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 95 | #30,393 |
| 2010 | modern | 98 | #30,540 |
| 2011 | modern | 99 | #30,218 |
| 2012 | modern | 93 | #31,409 |
| 2013 | modern | 94 | #31,656 |
| 2014 | modern | 91 | #32,219 |
| 2015 | modern | 93 | #31,972 |
| 2016 | modern | 94 | #31,871 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Godalming, Lambourn, London parishes and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Godalming | Surrey |
| 2 | Lambourn | Berkshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), | Berkshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Welman surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Welman, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Welman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Welman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Welman is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Welman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Welman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Welman has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "wel" meaning "well" or "spring," and "mann" meaning "man," suggesting that the name referred to someone who lived near a well or spring.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1202, which mentions a Robert Welman. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1279, where a Roger Welman is listed.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name was predominantly found in the counties of Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, and Norfolk, indicating that these areas were likely the original homelands of the Welman family. The name may have also been associated with specific place names, such as Welmanham in Yorkshire, which could have contributed to its development.
Notably, the Welman surname appeared in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conquer. This early mention provides evidence of the name's antiquity.
Throughout history, several individuals with the Welman surname have achieved notable recognition. One such figure was John Welman (c. 1470-1535), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Lewes and wrote extensively on theological subjects.
Another prominent Welman was Sir Francis Welman (1586-1658), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Cambridgeshire. He was appointed High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire in 1631 and played a significant role in local politics during the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, Joseph Welman (1713-1798) was a respected English physician who practiced in London and served as the President of the Royal College of Physicians from 1785 to 1789.
The Welman name also gained recognition in the literary world with the poet and novelist Elizabeth Welman (1798-1874), who published several works, including the novel "Ethel Woodville" in 1837.
Lastly, Sir Walter Welman (1892-1982), a British naval officer, made significant contributions during World War I and World War II, rising to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet and serving as the First Sea Lord from 1948 to 1951.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Welman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 21 Welmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.93x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 21 | 13.93x |
| Devon | 14 | 7.18x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 1.50x |
| Surrey | 11 | 2.41x |
| Berkshire | 10 | 14.23x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 3.13x |
| Kent | 6 | 1.88x |
| Cornwall | 5 | 4.72x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 7.21x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.85x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.22x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.61x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Godalming in Surrey leads with 9 Welmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 313.59x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Godalming | 9 | 313.59x |
| Reading St Lawrence | 9 | 600.00x |
| Stoke Damerel | 8 | 58.65x |
| Lyncombe Widcombe | 6 | 151.90x |
| Norton Fitzwarren | 6 | 2857.14x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 5 | 148.37x |
| Titchfield | 5 | 344.83x |
| Maker | 4 | 408.16x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 5.31x |
| Walcot | 4 | 49.81x |
| Uplyme | 3 | 1034.48x |
| Aston | 2 | 3.08x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 4.92x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 7.09x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.20x |
| Martock | 2 | 204.08x |
| Putney | 2 | 46.84x |
| Tottenham | 2 | 13.41x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 14.39x |
| Axminster | 1 | 109.89x |
| Bristol St Peter | 1 | 151.52x |
| Bury | 1 | 7.88x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 11.14x |
| Chard | 1 | 54.64x |
| Chudleigh | 1 | 161.29x |
| Earley | 1 | 85.47x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 16.13x |
| Gulval | 1 | 147.06x |
| Heeley | 1 | 35.46x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.92x |
| Melbourne | 1 | 666.67x |
| Plympton St Mary | 1 | 88.50x |
| St Helier | 1 | 11.07x |
| St Peter Port | 1 | 19.49x |
| St Sepulchre London | 1 | 72.99x |
| West Coker | 1 | 322.58x |
| Yeovil | 1 | 32.68x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Welman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Welman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Welman households.
FAQ
In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Welman surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 94 in 2016. That gives Welman a modern rank of #31,871.
A topographic surname suggesting someone who lived near a well or spring.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Welman bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.