NameCensus.

UK surname

Werry

A surname derived from the English word "weir," referring to a dam or enclosure for catching fish.

In the 1881 census there were 232 people recorded with the Werry surname, ranking it #11,677 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, down from #11,677 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Austell and Ulverstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Bromley and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Werry is 232 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 55.2%.

1881 census count

232

Ranked #11,677

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

1881

232 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Werry had 232 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,677 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 232 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Werry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Werry surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Werry 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 158 #12,461
1861 historical 118 #18,512
1881 historical 232 #11,677
1891 historical 230 #13,494
1901 historical 220 #14,245
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 137 #22,301
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 136 #23,296
2003 modern 125 #24,265
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 116 #25,813
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Werrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Austell, Ulverstone and Menheniot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Bromley, West Devon and Dacorum. 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 3
2 St Austell Cornwall
3 Ulverstone Lancashire
4 Menheniot Cornwall
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 012 South Lakeland
2 Bromley 018 Bromley
3 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
4 West Devon 005 West Devon
5 Dacorum 022 Dacorum

Forenames

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First names often paired with Werry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Werry

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Werry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Werry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Werry is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Werry is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Werry 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 Werry 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 Werry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Werry

The surname Werry is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variant of the Old English word "wyrian," meaning "to wander" or "to roam." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, referring to someone who traveled frequently or had a nomadic lifestyle.

The earliest known recordings of the name date back to the late 13th century, with instances found in historical documents and records from various regions of England, including Kent, Surrey, and Essex. One notable early mention is in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, which lists a John Werry as a taxpayer.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, an important medieval record documenting landowners and their holdings. This entry references a Robert Werry, who held land in the village of Willingham during that time.

The Werry surname has also been linked to certain place names, particularly in the southeastern counties of England. For example, there is a village called Werry in Kent, which may have influenced the surname's development or been named after an early bearer of the name.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Werry. One of the earliest was Sir John Werry (c. 1330-1392), a prominent English landowner and member of the gentry in Sussex during the 14th century. Another was Richard Werry (c. 1460-1522), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London during the Tudor period.

In the 17th century, John Werry (1634-1701) was a notable English clergyman and religious writer, best known for his work "The Spiritual Traveller" published in 1684. Elizabeth Werry (1768-1858) was a celebrated English novelist and playwright active during the Regency era.

Moving into the 19th century, William Werry (1814-1892) was a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons and the London Pavilion music hall. His contemporary, Charles Werry (1819-1887), was a respected English judge and legal scholar who served as a Justice of the Queen's Bench.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Werry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Werry 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. Cornwall leads with 123 Werrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.41x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 123 46.41x
Devon 49 10.06x
Middlesex 14 0.60x
Lancashire 13 0.47x
Lincolnshire 9 2.40x
Channel Islands 6 8.65x
Glamorgan 5 1.23x
Monmouthshire 5 2.95x
Surrey 5 0.44x
Cumberland 2 0.99x
Kent 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 7.17x
Cheshire 1 0.19x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Norfolk 1 0.28x
Sussex 1 0.25x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Austell in Cornwall leads with 23 Werrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 253.86x.

Place Total Index
St Austell 23 253.86x
St Blazey 18 772.53x
Menheniot 16 1454.55x
Stoke Damerel 16 46.92x
Great Torrington 12 434.78x
Lanlivery 11 990.99x
Ulverston 10 123.61x
St Ive 9 529.41x
Camborne 8 73.26x
East Stonehouse 8 83.33x
Limehouse London 6 23.35x
Truro St Mary 6 269.06x
Bedwellty 5 16.73x
Bideford 5 95.79x
Llantrisant 5 48.69x
Luxulyan 5 568.18x
Newlyn 5 442.48x
Croydon 4 6.32x
St Helier 4 17.71x
West Torrington 4 3076.92x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.95x
Bodmin 3 68.49x
Dalton In Furness 3 27.99x
Merther 3 1500.00x
Scopwick 3 937.50x
Exminster 2 114.29x
Falmouth 2 21.32x
Lanteglos By Fowey 2 185.19x
Louth 2 23.31x
Millom 2 32.36x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 5.33x
Royal Navy 2 8.39x
St Breock 2 139.86x
St Mewan 2 243.90x
St Pancras London 2 1.06x
Brighton 1 1.26x
Devonport 1 17.86x
Duloe 1 128.21x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 34.01x
Fowey 1 81.97x
Hammersmith London 1 1.73x
Helland 1 625.00x
Ilfracombe 1 19.92x
Kenton 1 64.94x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 9.25x
Lambeth 1 0.49x
Lanivet 1 120.48x
Lanteglos 1 81.30x
Lewisham 1 2.35x
Liscard 1 10.74x
Minster In Sheppey 1 7.56x
Pelynt 1 185.19x
Southampton St Mary 1 3.31x
St Clement 1 36.10x
St George Hanover 1 3.27x
St Mary 1 125.00x
St Peter Port 1 7.79x
Sunbury 1 35.59x
Uny Lelant 1 69.93x
York St Denis In 1 98.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 14
Jane 7
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Sarah 5
Eliza 4
Grace 4
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Beatrice 2
Emeline 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Claudia 1
Edith 1
Elizebith 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Fredrica 1
Georaina 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Isabelle 1
Johanna 1
Lilian 1
M.Jane 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marianne 1
Matilda 1
Maude 1
Olivia 1
Ophelia 1
Percilla 1
Phillipa 1
Phillippa 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
John 22
Joseph 11
Thomas 8
George 4
James 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Nicholas 3
Alfred 2
Henry 2
Lewis 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Abel 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Johnathan 1
Jonathan 1
Robert 1
Septimus 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Werry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Werry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 232 people were recorded with the Werry surname. That placed it at #11,677 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Werry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Werry a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Werry surname mean?

A surname derived from the English word "weir," referring to a dam or enclosure for catching fish.

What does the Werry map show?

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