NameCensus.

UK surname

Wenlock

In the 1881 census there were 298 people recorded with the Wenlock surname, ranking it #9,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 426, ranked #11,279, down from #9,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Lapley and Worfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Maldon and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wenlock is 446 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.0%.

1881 census count

298

Ranked #9,765

Modern count

426

2016, ranked #11,279

Peak year

2002

446 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wenlock had 298 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 426 in 2016, ranked #11,279.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 397 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wenlock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wenlock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wenlock 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 194 #10,662
1861 historical 212 #11,466
1881 historical 298 #9,765
1891 historical 328 #10,348
1901 historical 333 #10,843
1911 historical 397 #9,336
1997 modern 426 #10,490
1998 modern 438 #10,617
1999 modern 437 #10,717
2000 modern 432 #10,771
2001 modern 431 #10,606
2002 modern 446 #10,521
2003 modern 441 #10,458
2004 modern 444 #10,435
2005 modern 420 #10,781
2006 modern 421 #10,798
2007 modern 408 #11,203
2008 modern 417 #11,100
2009 modern 430 #11,081
2010 modern 428 #11,352
2011 modern 428 #11,219
2012 modern 417 #11,346
2013 modern 425 #11,382
2014 modern 436 #11,198
2015 modern 424 #11,364
2016 modern 426 #11,279

Geography

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Where Wenlocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Lapley, Worfield, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Colwich (Colwich), Stowe, Colton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Maldon and Dudley. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Lapley Staffordshire
3 Worfield Shropshire
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Colwich (Colwich), Stowe, Colton Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 025 Shropshire
2 Maldon 004 Maldon
3 Dudley 001 Dudley
4 Maldon 005 Maldon
5 Shropshire 018 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wenlock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wenlock

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Wenlock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wenlock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Wenlock is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wenlock is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wenlock falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Wenlock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wenlock 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. Staffordshire leads with 87 Wenlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.96x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 87 8.96x
Shropshire 39 15.69x
Northamptonshire 25 9.24x
Lancashire 24 0.70x
Essex 21 3.70x
Middlesex 19 0.66x
Cambridgeshire 18 9.88x
Denbighshire 10 9.20x
Warwickshire 10 1.38x
Surrey 9 0.64x
Cheshire 6 0.94x
Dorset 6 3.18x
Buckinghamshire 5 2.87x
Sussex 3 0.62x
Worcestershire 3 0.80x
Yorkshire 3 0.11x
Norfolk 2 0.45x
Renfrewshire 2 0.90x
Cardiganshire 1 1.42x
Durham 1 0.12x
Leicestershire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Peterborough in Northamptonshire leads with 24 Wenlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 122.45x.

Place Total Index
Peterborough 24 122.45x
Lapley 20 2739.73x
Wisbech St Peter 17 186.00x
Wolverhampton 15 20.08x
Worfield 11 635.84x
Little Bolton 10 22.78x
Liverpool 9 4.34x
Wrexham Regis 9 111.52x
Little Wigborough 8 8888.89x
Castle Church 7 119.86x
Colwich 7 303.03x
Tipton 7 23.54x
Harefield 6 405.41x
Smallthorne 6 166.21x
Brightlingsea 5 153.85x
Claverley 5 297.62x
Linslade 5 294.12x
Walsall Foreign 5 9.97x
Melcombe Regis 4 51.09x
Peldon 4 888.89x
Sheriff Hales 4 404.04x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 45.82x
Southwark St Saviour 4 27.05x
Stafford St Mary 4 29.09x
Wellington 4 28.63x
Aston 3 1.50x
Longdon 3 222.22x
Newhaven 3 76.14x
Norton 3 882.35x
Shoreditch London 3 2.41x
St George Hanover 3 7.99x
Stottesdon 3 265.49x
Wishaw 3 1764.71x
Bilston 2 10.63x
Colchester St Giles 2 35.65x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 9.23x
Eccleshall 2 54.35x
Egham 2 23.23x
Escrick 2 344.83x
Everton 2 1.84x
Langham 2 303.03x
Loppington 2 377.36x
Mile End Old Town 2 4.40x
Newington 2 1.88x
Paisley Middle Church 2 15.41x
Stowe 2 555.56x
Toxteth Park 2 1.73x
Birmingham 1 0.41x
Bridgnorth St Mary 1 41.15x
Burntwood Edial 1 16.13x
Chelsea London 1 1.15x
Elton In Congleton 1 185.19x
Enville 1 131.58x
Great Wyrley 1 95.24x
Gresford 1 97.09x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.97x
Knutsford Over 1 250.00x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.29x
Lower Mitton 1 30.21x
Middle 1 147.06x
Middlesbrough 1 2.69x
Minterne Magna 1 312.50x
Morville 1 714.29x
North Meols 1 2.99x
Norwich St Margaret 1 144.93x
Pedmore 1 204.08x
Rudheath 1 200.00x
Rugeley 1 14.35x
Southery 1 85.47x
Spitalfields London 1 4.62x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.80x
St Marylebone London 1 0.65x
Standground 1 76.92x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.42x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.97x
Stratford On Avon 1 24.88x
Upwell 1 74.63x
Welsh Hampton 1 196.08x
Weymouth 1 27.93x
Whittington 1 48.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 14
Eliza 7
Alice 6
Ann 6
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 6
Emma 5
Ada 4
Emily 4
Jane 3
Martha 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Maggie 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Elizth. 1
Eunice 1
Gertrude 1
Hephzibah 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lilah 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Margueretta 1
Nelly 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 15
Thomas 15
George 9
James 7
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Frederick 4
Ernest 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
Carl 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Ed. 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Geoge. 1
Giles 1
Henrey 1
Isaac 1
Jas.A. 1
Joe 1
Jon 1
Jos. 1
Josh. 1
Jubez 1
Matthew 1
Phillip 1
Rd. 1
Rd.Hy. 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Theophelus 1
Tho. 1

FAQ

Wenlock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wenlock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 298 people were recorded with the Wenlock surname. That placed it at #9,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wenlock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 426 in 2016. That gives Wenlock a modern rank of #11,279.

What does the Wenlock map show?

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