NameCensus.

UK surname

Welsby

A locational surname derived from Welsby, a place in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 768 people recorded with the Welsby surname, ranking it #4,815 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,257, ranked #4,758, up from #4,815 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Dean and Warrington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, St. Helens and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Welsby is 1,332 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.7%.

1881 census count

768

Ranked #4,815

Modern count

1,257

2016, ranked #4,758

Peak year

2010

1,332 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Welsby had 768 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,815 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,257 in 2016, ranked #4,758.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,179 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Welsby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Welsby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Welsby 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 545 #4,633
1861 historical 497 #5,262
1881 historical 768 #4,815
1891 historical 851 #4,807
1901 historical 1,071 #4,509
1911 historical 1,179 #3,969
1997 modern 1,317 #4,355
1998 modern 1,322 #4,492
1999 modern 1,327 #4,511
2000 modern 1,310 #4,543
2001 modern 1,287 #4,522
2002 modern 1,261 #4,701
2003 modern 1,275 #4,556
2004 modern 1,283 #4,538
2005 modern 1,268 #4,536
2006 modern 1,253 #4,599
2007 modern 1,272 #4,565
2008 modern 1,285 #4,556
2009 modern 1,311 #4,571
2010 modern 1,332 #4,596
2011 modern 1,304 #4,628
2012 modern 1,277 #4,648
2013 modern 1,300 #4,653
2014 modern 1,295 #4,692
2015 modern 1,264 #4,756
2016 modern 1,257 #4,758

Geography

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Where Welsbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Dean, Warrington, Bolton-le-Moors and Prescot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, St. Helens and Bolton. 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 Eccles Lancashire
2 Dean Lancashire
3 Warrington Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Prescot Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 018 Wigan
2 St. Helens 015 St. Helens
3 Bolton 001 Bolton
4 Bolton 024 Bolton
5 St. Helens 023 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Welsby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Welsby

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Welsby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Welsby 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Welsby 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

Welsby is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Welsby 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 Welsby 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 Welsby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Welsby

The surname Welsby is believed to have originated in England, and its earliest known origins can be traced back to the late 12th century. The name is thought to have derived from a place name, specifically the town of Welsby in the county of Cheshire. This town's name is thought to come from the Old English words "welle" meaning a spring or stream, and "by" meaning a farmstead or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Welsby can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cheshire in 1211, where a certain Richard de Wellesby is mentioned. These rolls were financial records kept by the English Exchequer, and the inclusion of the name suggests that the Welsby family held some prominence or landholdings in the area at that time.

Another early reference to the name appears in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1292, where a John de Wellesby is listed. The Assize Rolls were legal records that documented court proceedings, indicating that members of the Welsby family were involved in legal affairs in the region during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Wellesby, Wellisby, and Wellysbye, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that period. One notable individual from this era was Sir Robert de Wellesby, who was knighted by King Edward III in 1337 for his service in the Scottish Wars.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Welsby family continued to be active and influential in the Cheshire and Lancashire areas. One prominent figure was Thomas Welsby (1573-1637), who served as the High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1612. Another notable individual was William Welsby (1618-1688), a prominent landowner and member of the local gentry in Cheshire.

In the 18th century, the name Welsby appears in various records, such as parish registers and land deeds. One notable individual from this period was John Welsby (1730-1812), a successful merchant and landowner in Lancashire.

Throughout the 19th century, several individuals with the surname Welsby achieved recognition in various fields. For example, Henry Welsby (1801-1875) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Gothic Revival style. Another individual, Edward Welsby (1836-1903), was a respected lawyer and legal writer who published several works on English law.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Welsby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Welsby 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. Lancashire leads with 618 Welsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.95x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 618 6.95x
Cheshire 27 1.63x
Warwickshire 16 0.85x
Essex 15 1.01x
Surrey 14 0.38x
Shropshire 13 2.01x
Herefordshire 12 3.91x
Yorkshire 11 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.89x
Kent 8 0.31x
Staffordshire 6 0.24x
Middlesex 5 0.07x
Durham 3 0.13x
Somerset 3 0.25x
Hampshire 2 0.13x
Cardiganshire 1 0.55x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 1.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warrington in Lancashire leads with 52 Welsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.35x.

Place Total Index
Warrington 52 49.35x
Kearsley 43 229.95x
Great Bolton 29 24.63x
Prescot 29 180.35x
Rainhill 25 438.60x
West Derby 25 9.61x
Farnworth 24 45.06x
Little Hulton 23 156.25x
Everton 21 7.41x
Upholland 20 175.59x
Little Lever 18 158.31x
Preston 17 7.15x
Liverpool 16 2.96x
Cheetham 14 21.11x
Pendleton In Salford 14 13.22x
Latchford 13 118.29x
Toxteth Park 13 4.32x
Bradford 12 28.84x
Windle 11 21.99x
Kingsland 10 367.65x
North Meols 10 11.49x
Ribchester 10 297.62x
Euxton 9 305.08x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 9 35.17x
Wigan 9 7.24x
Worsley 9 16.42x
Ashton In Makerfield 8 31.61x
Pennington In Leigh 8 46.89x
Rumworth 8 62.99x
Salford 8 3.06x
West Ham 8 2.45x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 3.60x
Coventry St Michael 7 11.53x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 4.64x
Hindley 7 18.47x
Hulme 7 3.77x
Kirkdale 7 4.68x
Walton On Hill 7 14.53x
Whiston 7 101.01x
Worfield 7 155.90x
Aston 6 1.15x
Camberwell 6 1.25x
Gorton 6 7.18x
Little Bolton 6 5.25x
Oldham 6 2.09x
Stretford 6 12.27x
Wincham 6 196.72x
Burslem 5 6.90x
Chigwell 5 35.82x
Great Sankey 5 304.88x
Kemberton 5 714.29x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.91x
Plumstead 5 5.87x
Southworth With Croft 5 187.97x
Sutton 5 16.77x
Wavertree 5 17.57x
Clapham 4 4.27x
Culcheth 4 68.73x
Snenton 4 10.08x
Winwick With Hulme 4 320.00x
Abram 3 43.99x
Portishead 3 33.48x
Radcliffe 3 7.00x
Walmersley Cum 3 21.13x
Willington 3 23.29x
Alverstoke 2 3.60x
Birmingham 2 0.32x
Bury 2 1.97x
Delamere 2 134.23x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 4.48x
Fazakerley 2 144.93x
Leominster 2 15.74x
Manchester 2 0.50x
Rainford 2 20.81x
Runcorn 2 5.25x
Stanford Rivers 2 80.00x
Streatham 2 3.60x
Swinton In Rotherham 2 10.19x
Woolwich 2 2.12x
Adel Cum Eccup 1 32.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 45
Mary 43
Sarah 32
Ellen 28
Alice 19
Martha 19
Margaret 18
Ann 17
Jane 17
Emma 10
Catherine 7
Annie 6
Emily 5
Lucy 5
Elizth. 4
Esther 4
Harriet 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Betsy 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Kate 3
Leah 3
Louisa 3
May 3
Rachel 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Elizebth 2
Fanny 2
Lydia 2
Margt. 2
Nancy 2
Olive 2
Phoebe 2
Betty 1
Bridget 1
Catharine 1
Eliza 1
Ellena 1
Emmeline 1
J.Ellen 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Louisia 1
Tobiah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 54
William 54
James 35
Thomas 32
Joseph 28
George 25
Henry 14
Richard 13
Jonathan 11
Robert 11
Edward 9
Samuel 8
Peter 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Charles 4
David 4
Walter 4
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Ralph 3
Thos. 3
Alexander 2
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Gerrard 2
Israel 2
Jeremiah 2
Mathew 2
Nathan 2
Silas 2
Simeon 2
Willm. 2
Arron 1
Chippinall 1
Earnest 1
Edw.Reece 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Georgh 1
Levy 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Moses 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Welsby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Welsby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 768 people were recorded with the Welsby surname. That placed it at #4,815 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Welsby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,257 in 2016. That gives Welsby a modern rank of #4,758.

What does the Welsby surname mean?

A locational surname derived from Welsby, a place in Lancashire, England.

What does the Welsby map show?

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