NameCensus.

UK surname

Wenham

An English place name likely derived from a geographical name identifying someone from Wenham village.

In the 1881 census there were 998 people recorded with the Wenham surname, ranking it #3,909 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,271, ranked #4,712, down from #3,909 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wenham is 1,395 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.4%.

1881 census count

998

Ranked #3,909

Modern count

1,271

2016, ranked #4,712

Peak year

1998

1,395 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wenham had 998 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,909 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,271 in 2016, ranked #4,712.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,384 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wenham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wenham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wenham 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 638 #4,070
1861 historical 493 #5,294
1881 historical 998 #3,909
1891 historical 1,059 #3,962
1901 historical 1,239 #3,993
1911 historical 1,384 #3,482
1997 modern 1,362 #4,226
1998 modern 1,395 #4,294
1999 modern 1,394 #4,320
2000 modern 1,389 #4,314
2001 modern 1,348 #4,338
2002 modern 1,384 #4,335
2003 modern 1,324 #4,416
2004 modern 1,293 #4,509
2005 modern 1,288 #4,465
2006 modern 1,277 #4,512
2007 modern 1,281 #4,543
2008 modern 1,312 #4,478
2009 modern 1,324 #4,533
2010 modern 1,371 #4,483
2011 modern 1,338 #4,522
2012 modern 1,292 #4,599
2013 modern 1,306 #4,637
2014 modern 1,308 #4,649
2015 modern 1,273 #4,725
2016 modern 1,271 #4,712

Geography

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Where Wenhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Lambeth and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Eastbourne and Barnsley. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tonbridge and Malling 008 Tonbridge and Malling
2 Tunbridge Wells 001 Tunbridge Wells
3 Ashford 012 Ashford
4 Eastbourne 003 Eastbourne
5 Barnsley 006 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wenham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wenham

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Wenham is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wenham 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

Wenham falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wenham

The surname Wenham is of English origin and can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is a locational name derived from the place name Wenham, which is found in both Norfolk and Suffolk counties in England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "wen" meaning "hill" or "mound" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wenham dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wenham" in reference to the village of the same name in Norfolk. This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms such as "de Wenham" and "atte Wenham", indicating the person's connection to the place. For example, in the Testa de Nevill, a collection of legal documents from the late 12th and early 13th centuries, a "William de Wenham" is mentioned as holding land in Suffolk.

Notably, in the 14th century, a prominent figure named Thomas Wenham (c. 1330-1390) held the position of Chief Baron of the Exchequer in England. He was a distinguished lawyer and judge during the reign of King Edward III.

Another notable individual was Sir John Wenham (c. 1565-1628), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Suffolk. He was also a prominent figure in the Virginia Company, which played a crucial role in the establishment of the English colonies in North America.

In the 17th century, the surname gained further recognition with Thomas Wenham (1638-1689), an Anglican clergyman and philosopher. He is known for his work on the science of motion and for proposing a theory of the circulation of blood before William Harvey's landmark discoveries.

The name Wenham has also been associated with place names in other parts of the world, such as Wenham, Massachusetts in the United States, which was likely named after the English town by early settlers.

Throughout history, the surname Wenham has maintained its connection to its English roots and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including lawyers, politicians, clergymen, and landowners.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wenham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wenham 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. Sussex leads with 265 Wenhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.24x.

County Total Index
Sussex 265 16.24x
Kent 257 7.78x
Middlesex 143 1.48x
Surrey 82 1.74x
Cambridgeshire 70 11.42x
Lincolnshire 33 2.13x
Suffolk 24 2.04x
Hertfordshire 18 2.70x
Worcestershire 13 1.03x
Essex 12 0.63x
Hampshire 9 0.45x
Wiltshire 8 0.93x
Bedfordshire 7 1.40x
Huntingdonshire 7 3.64x
Yorkshire 7 0.07x
Lancashire 6 0.05x
Norfolk 6 0.40x
Berkshire 5 0.69x
Durham 5 0.17x
Devon 4 0.20x
Northamptonshire 4 0.44x
Midlothian 2 0.15x
Warwickshire 2 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Somerset 1 0.06x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 59 Wenhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.92x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 59 17.92x
Castle Camps 39 1326.53x
Hastings St Clement 24 156.35x
Cranbrook 21 150.21x
Eastbourne 21 27.97x
Croydon 19 7.26x
Clapham 18 14.88x
Deeping St James 16 292.50x
Tonbridge 16 13.44x
Appledore 15 697.67x
Ore 15 123.56x
Lambeth 14 1.66x
Beckley 13 318.63x
Stone In Tenterden 13 1015.63x
Brenenden 12 282.35x
Eastchurch 12 368.10x
Wendy 12 2666.67x
Hellingly 11 201.47x
Northiam 11 275.00x
Stowmarket 11 80.76x
Biddenden 10 221.24x
Deptford St Paul 10 3.93x
St Marylebone London 10 1.94x
Steeple Morden 10 306.75x
Bromsgrove 9 21.16x
Clerkenwell London 9 3.94x
Hawkhurst 9 87.72x
Lewisham 9 5.11x
Preston 9 31.59x
Gravesend 8 28.62x
Loose 8 164.95x
Maidstone 8 8.13x
Maresfield 8 116.28x
Rodbourne Cheney 8 121.03x
Shoreditch London 8 1.91x
Etchingham 7 231.79x
Ipswich St Clement 7 23.36x
Islington London 7 0.75x
Northfleet 7 24.06x
St George In East 7 10.64x
St Pancras London 7 0.90x
Sutton Valence 7 186.67x
Walthanstow 7 220.82x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.43x
Crayford 6 41.61x
Fulham London 6 4.28x
Hackney London 6 1.11x
Hailsham 6 60.79x
Hastings All Sts 6 39.04x
Higham 6 134.53x
Holbeach 6 34.82x
Holy Trinity 6 2.60x
Lewes St John Under 6 269.06x
Luton 6 6.92x
Snodland 6 64.10x
Sutton St Mary St James 6 329.67x
Teddington London 6 27.37x
Wittersham 6 204.08x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.02x
Bromley London 5 2.35x
Chelsea London 5 1.71x
Cuckfield 5 30.34x
East Farleigh 5 90.25x
Goudhurst 5 54.70x
Kensington London 5 0.93x
St Bartholomew Great 5 56.82x
St Luke London 5 3.22x
St Neots 5 47.89x
Tottenham 5 3.24x
Uxbridge 5 45.21x
Wandsworth 5 5.37x
Headcorn 4 80.81x
Kings Norton 4 3.53x
Kingston On Thames 4 3.53x
Layston 4 112.68x
Margate St John Baptist 4 6.62x
Newenden 4 800.00x
Northwood 4 14.16x
Poplar London 4 2.19x
Weston 4 124.61x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 69
George 44
John 40
James 31
Henry 24
Thomas 24
Charles 18
Albert 12
Alfred 12
Frederick 12
Edward 10
Richard 9
Arthur 7
Herbert 7
Joseph 7
Walter 7
Francis 6
Frank 6
Harry 6
Mark 6
Robert 5
Samuel 5
David 3
Fredrick 3
Isaac 3
Jesse 3
Matthew 3
Ody 3
Peter 3
Stephen 3
Willm. 3
Amos 2
Caleb 2
Ebenezer 2
Jno. 2
Lancelot 2
Leonard 2
Mathew 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Wm. 2
Adan 1
Ambrose 1
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Jas. 1
Johnathan 1

FAQ

Wenham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wenham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 998 people were recorded with the Wenham surname. That placed it at #3,909 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wenham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,271 in 2016. That gives Wenham a modern rank of #4,712.

What does the Wenham surname mean?

An English place name likely derived from a geographical name identifying someone from Wenham village.

What does the Wenham map show?

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