UK surname
An English surname derived from a surname from the shieldsmiths of Northumberland.
In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Welson surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82, ranked #32,895, down from #24,420 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kington, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Welson is 1,363 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.2%.
1881 census count
65
Ranked #24,420
Modern count
82
2016, ranked #32,895
Peak year
1891
1,363 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Welson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Welson surname density by area, 1911 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 | 504 | #4,961 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,212 | #2,342 |
| 1881 | historical | 65 | #24,420 |
| 1891 | historical | 1,363 | #3,187 |
| 1901 | historical | 201 | #15,059 |
| 1911 | historical | 402 | #9,249 |
| 1997 | modern | 95 | #27,638 |
| 1998 | modern | 81 | #29,849 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 87 | #29,377 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 71 | #31,351 |
| 2003 | modern | 75 | #30,994 |
| 2004 | modern | 73 | #31,403 |
| 2005 | modern | 69 | #32,007 |
| 2006 | modern | 68 | #32,441 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 74 | #32,460 |
| 2009 | modern | 76 | #32,635 |
| 2010 | modern | 82 | #32,492 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 76 | #33,191 |
| 2013 | modern | 81 | #32,996 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 82 | #32,895 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kington, Halifax, London parishes, St Pancras and Toxteth Park. 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 | Kington | Radnorshire |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Welson 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 Welson, 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 Welson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Welson 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, Welson 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 Welson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Welson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WELSON is of English origin, first recorded in the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "well" meaning a spring or stream, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting the name may have referred to someone who lived near a well or stream.
The earliest known record of the surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1195, where a Richard de Welleton is mentioned. This early spelling variation indicates the name may have been associated with a specific place called Welleton, which no longer exists.
In the 13th century, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain references to a William de Welletone in Oxfordshire and a Robert de Weletun in Cambridgeshire, further demonstrating the regional variations in spelling at the time.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Welson, a knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He fought in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the siege of Calais in 1347.
Another notable figure was Thomas Welson (1560-1624), an English clergyman and academic who became the Rector of Solihull and a fellow of New College, Oxford.
In the 17th century, a prominent bearer of the name was Captain James Welson (1615-1688), an English sailor and explorer who commanded several voyages to the East Indies and the Caribbean.
During the English Civil War, Colonel Richard Welson (1620-1670) was a Parliamentarian officer who fought for the Roundheads and later served as a member of the Rump Parliament.
In more recent history, Sir Alfred Welson (1832-1912) was a British engineer and industrialist who founded the Welson Engineering Company and played a significant role in the development of locomotive and shipbuilding technologies in the 19th century.
While the surname WELSON is not among the most common in English-speaking countries today, it has a rich history spanning centuries and is deeply rooted in the traditions and settlements of medieval England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Welson 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. Herefordshire leads with 13 Welsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.02x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Herefordshire | 13 | 50.02x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.26x |
| Kent | 7 | 3.24x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.94x |
| Brecknockshire | 4 | 31.55x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.53x |
| Radnorshire | 4 | 78.28x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.87x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.98x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 2.05x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.25x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.32x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.83x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.53x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.29x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.17x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.83x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.94x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.21x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Allhallows in Kent leads with 6 Welsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Allhallows | 6 | 8571.43x |
| Croydon | 6 | 34.99x |
| Gladestry | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Hay | 4 | 851.06x |
| Kington | 4 | 625.00x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 7.84x |
| Wednesbury | 4 | 74.77x |
| Huntington In Kington | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Walterstone | 3 | 10000.00x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 3.75x |
| Govan | 2 | 3.94x |
| Great Yarmouth | 2 | 24.78x |
| Holy Trinity | 2 | 13.24x |
| Manchester | 2 | 5.91x |
| Michaelchurch Escely | 2 | 2857.14x |
| St George In East | 2 | 46.40x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 9.78x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 6.18x |
| Charterhouse London | 1 | 333.33x |
| Chipping Barnet | 1 | 131.58x |
| Claines | 1 | 44.05x |
| Ditchling | 1 | 344.83x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 10.13x |
| Hensingham | 1 | 222.22x |
| Hindley | 1 | 31.15x |
| Hopesay | 1 | 714.29x |
| Ledbury | 1 | 112.36x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 8.67x |
| Worksop | 1 | 39.53x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Welson 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 Welson 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 Welson households.
FAQ
In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Welson surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016. That gives Welson a modern rank of #32,895.
An English surname derived from a surname from the shieldsmiths of Northumberland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Welson 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.