NameCensus.

UK surname

Wenban

In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Wenban surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, up from #26,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, Ticehurst and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Wealden and Mid Sussex.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wenban is 177 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 196.2%.

1881 census count

52

Ranked #26,281

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

2000

177 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wenban had 52 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 141 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wenban surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wenban surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wenban 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 88 #22,554
1881 historical 52 #26,281
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 110 #21,604
1911 historical 141 #18,571
1997 modern 158 #20,422
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 177 #19,634
2001 modern 174 #19,562
2002 modern 177 #19,759
2003 modern 166 #20,320
2004 modern 176 #19,731
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 154 #21,576
2007 modern 156 #21,650
2008 modern 159 #21,598
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 158 #22,817
2014 modern 156 #23,231
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Wenbans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, Ticehurst, London parishes, Benenden and Hawkhurst, Etchingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Wealden, Mid Sussex and Powys. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 Ticehurst Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Benenden Kent
5 Hawkhurst, Etchingham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 007 Cotswold
2 Cotswold 006 Cotswold
3 Wealden 013 Wealden
4 Mid Sussex 014 Mid Sussex
5 Powys 013 Powys

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wenban

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wenban

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Wenban surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wenban 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Wenban is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wenban is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wenban falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wenban 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 Wenban, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Wenban families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wenban 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. Kent leads with 26 Wenbans recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.03x.

County Total Index
Kent 26 15.03x
Sussex 22 25.73x
Surrey 4 1.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ticehurst in Sussex leads with 11 Wenbans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2115.38x.

Place Total Index
Ticehurst 11 2115.38x
Hastings St Mary 7 328.64x
Hawkhurst 7 1296.30x
Milton In Gravesend 6 231.66x
Tonbridge 6 96.15x
Hastings St Leonards 3 238.10x
Camberwell 2 6.17x
Dover St James 2 263.16x
Minster In Sheppey 2 69.69x
Chobham 1 227.27x
Deptford St Paul 1 7.49x
Lambeth 1 2.26x
Lewes St Michael 1 588.24x
Maidstone 1 19.42x
Tenterden 1 163.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 2
Louisa 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Clarisa 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Elsie 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Olive 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 4
Stephen 3
William 3
Edward 2
James 2
John 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Eli 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
W.G. 1

FAQ

Wenban surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wenban surname in 1881?

In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Wenban surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wenban surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Wenban a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Wenban map show?

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