NameCensus.

UK surname

Wescombe

In the 1881 census there were 173 people recorded with the Wescombe surname, ranking it #14,112 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 176, ranked #21,298, down from #14,112 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Pembrokeshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wescombe is 205 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.7%.

1881 census count

173

Ranked #14,112

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

1911

205 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wescombe had 173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,112 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 205 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Wescombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wescombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wescombe 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 133 #14,106
1861 historical 119 #18,393
1881 historical 173 #14,112
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 161 #17,324
1911 historical 205 #14,733
1997 modern 171 #19,438
1998 modern 172 #19,883
1999 modern 183 #19,248
2000 modern 177 #19,634
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 171 #20,177
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 154 #21,432
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 155 #21,726
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 165 #22,026
2011 modern 161 #22,187
2012 modern 167 #21,598
2013 modern 178 #21,108
2014 modern 188 #20,503
2015 modern 183 #20,786
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Wescombes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes, St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford and Norton Fitzwarren. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wiltshire and Scarborough. 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 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford Somerset
5 Norton Fitzwarren Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 009 Swindon
2 Pembrokeshire 016 Pembrokeshire
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 021 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Wiltshire 016 Wiltshire
5 Scarborough 014 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wescombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wescombe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wescombe, 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 Wescombe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wescombe 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Wescombe 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

Wescombe 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

Wescombe falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Wescombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wescombe 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 107 Wescombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.39x.

County Total Index
Somerset 107 39.39x
Middlesex 18 1.07x
Devon 15 4.27x
Gloucestershire 9 2.72x
Glamorgan 8 2.72x
Kent 8 1.39x
Dorset 6 5.42x
Surrey 1 0.12x
Warwickshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingston in Somerset leads with 17 Wescombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3090.91x.

Place Total Index
Kingston 17 3090.91x
Taunton St Mary 16 320.64x
Taunton St James 11 277.78x
Stogumber 10 1388.89x
Hackney London 9 9.51x
Barnstaple 7 127.04x
Cothelstone 7 8750.00x
Otford 7 875.00x
Pitminster 7 875.00x
St Pancras London 7 5.15x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 62.19x
Nether Stowey 5 1162.79x
Roath 5 37.48x
Bridgewater 4 54.27x
Bristol St George 4 26.13x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 36.23x
Kilmersdon 4 298.51x
Melbury Osmond 4 1739.13x
North Curry 4 434.78x
Stogursey 4 547.95x
Bedminster 3 11.76x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 10.62x
Norton Fitzwarren 3 789.47x
Stoke Damerel 3 12.21x
Stringston 3 4285.71x
Westonsuper Mare 3 545.45x
Corfe 2 909.09x
Maiden Newton 2 434.78x
Aston 1 0.85x
Chard 1 30.40x
Chatham 1 6.31x
Glastonbury 1 45.05x
Hammersmith London 1 2.41x
Lambeth 1 0.68x
Mile End Old Town 1 3.75x
St Decumans Watchet 1 144.93x
Stapleton 1 15.92x
Wraxall 1 192.31x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Wescombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wescombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 173 people were recorded with the Wescombe surname. That placed it at #14,112 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wescombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Wescombe a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Wescombe map show?

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