NameCensus.

UK surname

Wensley

A locational surname derived from places in England called Wensley.

In the 1881 census there were 534 people recorded with the Wensley surname, ranking it #6,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 574, ranked #9,007, down from #6,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Dulverton, Brompton Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Coventry and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wensley is 705 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.5%.

1881 census count

534

Ranked #6,436

Modern count

574

2016, ranked #9,007

Peak year

1911

705 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wensley had 534 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 574 in 2016, ranked #9,007.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 705 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wensley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wensley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wensley 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 349 #6,747
1861 historical 341 #7,479
1881 historical 534 #6,436
1891 historical 561 #6,767
1901 historical 622 #6,868
1911 historical 705 #6,048
1997 modern 629 #7,868
1998 modern 653 #7,879
1999 modern 649 #7,950
2000 modern 669 #7,758
2001 modern 632 #7,946
2002 modern 636 #8,107
2003 modern 596 #8,376
2004 modern 601 #8,339
2005 modern 585 #8,422
2006 modern 593 #8,359
2007 modern 582 #8,555
2008 modern 595 #8,474
2009 modern 590 #8,699
2010 modern 596 #8,831
2011 modern 610 #8,569
2012 modern 598 #8,627
2013 modern 602 #8,728
2014 modern 590 #8,922
2015 modern 581 #8,944
2016 modern 574 #9,007

Geography

Back to top

Where Wensleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Dulverton, Brompton Regis, Cardiff St John and St Mary and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Coventry, Harrogate, Pendle and South Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dulverton, Brompton Regis Devon
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 055 County Durham
2 Coventry 017 Coventry
3 Harrogate 001 Harrogate
4 Pendle 005 Pendle
5 South Somerset 019 South Somerset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wensley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wensley

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

Wensley 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

Wensley falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wensley

The surname Wensley is of English origin, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name Wensley, which is found in various locations across England, including Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where it appears as "Wensleye." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place called Wensley, possibly referring to a meadow or clearing where wens or swans were found.

In the 14th century, the name was also recorded as "Wenslay" and "Wensley" in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379. This indicates that the spelling had solidified by that time, although variations were still present.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England compiled in 1086, does not mention the name Wensley directly. However, it does record several places with similar names, such as "Wenreslie" in Yorkshire, which may have been an earlier version of the name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Wensley, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. Another notable individual was William Wensley, a prominent merchant from York who lived in the late 14th century.

During the 16th century, the name gained wider recognition with the birth of Thomas Wensley (1545-1622), an English Presbyterian minister and theologian who served as the Vicar of Leeds from 1600 until his death.

In the 17th century, the name is associated with Richard Wensley (1638-1711), an English clergyman and Anglican priest who served as the Rector of Ilford in Essex.

The 18th century saw the rise of John Wensley (1742-1823), a renowned English author and historian who wrote extensively about the history of Yorkshire and was a member of the Royal Society of Antiquaries.

In the 19th century, the name Wensley gained further prominence with the birth of Walter Wensley (1855-1928), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the former headquarters of the National Provincial Bank.

Throughout its history, the surname Wensley has been closely tied to various locations in England, particularly in Yorkshire and the surrounding counties. While variations in spelling existed in earlier centuries, the name has maintained a consistent form since the late Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wensley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wensley 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. Somerset leads with 118 Wensleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.05x.

County Total Index
Somerset 118 14.05x
Lancashire 99 1.60x
Devon 98 9.02x
Middlesex 68 1.30x
Yorkshire 41 0.79x
Cheshire 22 1.91x
Gloucestershire 21 2.05x
Worcestershire 12 1.76x
Kent 11 0.62x
Glamorgan 9 0.99x
Sussex 8 0.91x
Dorset 7 2.04x
Surrey 7 0.28x
Durham 4 0.26x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.41x
Hampshire 2 0.19x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.61x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Suffolk 1 0.16x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 33 Wensleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.56x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 33 14.56x
Blackburn 31 18.82x
Dulverton 29 1178.86x
Kings Brompton Brompton 18 4090.91x
Morchard Bishop 16 704.85x
Liscard 15 72.25x
Morebath 14 1772.15x
Wyke In Bradford 11 118.92x
Hockworthy 10 1818.18x
Braunton 9 244.57x
Llandaff 9 29.77x
Ashbrittle 8 1176.47x
Bromsgrove 8 34.87x
Bury 8 11.31x
Crumpsall 8 54.83x
Everton 8 4.05x
Oakford 8 898.88x
Taunton St Mary 8 51.88x
Brushford 7 1206.90x
Mark 7 357.14x
Poole St James 7 54.39x
Shoreditch London 7 3.09x
Tiverton 7 37.41x
Allhallows 6 1071.43x
Bampton 6 180.18x
Bristol St Paul In 6 22.00x
Brompton Regis 6 659.34x
Cannington 6 240.00x
Clerkenwell London 6 4.87x
Islington London 6 1.19x
Leeds 6 2.05x
Morton In Keighley 6 147.78x
Thornton In Craven 6 144.58x
Arkengarthdale 5 277.78x
Bristol St Augustine 5 30.27x
Broughton In Salford 5 8.83x
Clevedon 5 57.21x
Colne 5 27.10x
Great Little Marsden 5 17.62x
Great Neston 5 131.58x
Langford Budville 5 769.23x
Luxborough 5 666.67x
Padiham 5 33.42x
Pagham 5 322.58x
Puddington 5 1282.05x
St Marylebone London 5 1.79x
West Anstey 5 1190.48x
Westbury On Trym 5 14.42x
Wheatley Carr Booth 5 7142.86x
Willesden 5 10.16x
Battersea 4 2.08x
Lee 4 15.47x
St Pancras London 4 0.95x
Stoke Prior 4 95.24x
Taunton St James 4 32.65x
Toxteth Park 4 1.91x
West Derby 4 2.21x
Bedminster 3 3.80x
Bewerley 3 140.85x
Billingshurst 3 104.17x
Bishops Lydeard 3 140.19x
Combe Raleigh 3 731.71x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 9.65x
Exeter St Thomas The 3 27.10x
Huntsham 3 857.14x
Thornley 3 53.38x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 1.98x
Barrow In Furness 2 2.37x
Bristol Christchurch 2 134.23x
Chulmleigh 2 80.97x
Great Harwood 2 17.87x
Ilfracombe 2 17.89x
Mottram 2 38.31x
Portsea 2 0.95x
Wellington 2 17.56x
Aston 1 0.28x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.04x
Lowestoft 1 3.33x
Newent 1 19.23x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 1 43.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 32
James 30
William 20
Thomas 18
George 17
Charles 16
Henry 15
Frederick 10
Richard 8
Joseph 7
Robert 7
Albert 6
Francis 5
Alfred 4
Ernest 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Herbert 3
Roger 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Jeffrey 2
Ralph 2
Berty 1
Caroline 1
Chas. 1
Chs.Heny. 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Hubert 1
Jas.Thos. 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Jone 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Peter 1
Rebecca 1
Regnaild 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Wensley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wensley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 534 people were recorded with the Wensley surname. That placed it at #6,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wensley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 574 in 2016. That gives Wensley a modern rank of #9,007.

What does the Wensley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in England called Wensley.

What does the Wensley map show?

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