NameCensus.

UK surname

Wesley

From a place name meaning "west meadow," or from a diminutive of the given name Wass.

In the 1881 census there were 1,173 people recorded with the Wesley surname, ranking it #3,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,948, ranked #3,292, up from #3,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, Doncaster and Aylesbury Vale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wesley is 2,017 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.1%.

1881 census count

1,173

Ranked #3,433

Modern count

1,948

2016, ranked #3,292

Peak year

2000

2,017 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wesley had 1,173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,948 in 2016, ranked #3,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,773 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wesley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wesley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wesley 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 605 #4,247
1861 historical 789 #3,492
1881 historical 1,173 #3,433
1891 historical 1,320 #3,293
1901 historical 1,559 #3,304
1911 historical 1,773 #2,764
1997 modern 1,926 #3,139
1998 modern 1,997 #3,161
1999 modern 1,989 #3,189
2000 modern 2,017 #3,146
2001 modern 1,959 #3,162
2002 modern 1,981 #3,198
2003 modern 1,891 #3,253
2004 modern 1,883 #3,266
2005 modern 1,833 #3,307
2006 modern 1,871 #3,275
2007 modern 1,899 #3,256
2008 modern 1,930 #3,229
2009 modern 1,969 #3,257
2010 modern 1,986 #3,297
2011 modern 1,977 #3,262
2012 modern 1,965 #3,228
2013 modern 1,982 #3,268
2014 modern 1,976 #3,296
2015 modern 1,955 #3,289
2016 modern 1,948 #3,292

Geography

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Where Wesleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, Doncaster, Aylesbury Vale, Bassetlaw and North West Leicestershire. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth Leicestershire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 008 South Kesteven
2 Doncaster 035 Doncaster
3 Aylesbury Vale 009 Aylesbury Vale
4 Bassetlaw 006 Bassetlaw
5 North West Leicestershire 010 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wesley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wesley

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Wesley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wesley 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

Wesley falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wesley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Wesley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wesley

The surname Wesley has its origins in the English county of Dorset, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "wesl" and "leah," meaning "a meadow where the stream turns" or "a meadow by the bend of a river." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a location or settlement near a winding stream or river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wesley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Welleslegh." This entry refers to a place in Somerset, indicating the geographical roots of the surname.

During the 13th century, various spellings of the name emerged, including "Welleslee," "Welesley," and "Wellesley." These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and the inconsistencies in spelling practices at that time.

In the 14th century, the name Wesley began to appear more frequently in official records and documents. One notable individual from this period was John Wesley (c. 1310 - c. 1370), a landowner and member of the gentry in Dorset.

The Wesley family continued to hold prominence in the following centuries. Sir William Wesley (c. 1450 - 1510) was a distinguished soldier and diplomat during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He served as Lieutenant of the Tower of London and was knighted for his military services.

The most famous bearer of the Wesley surname is undoubtedly John Wesley (1703 - 1791), the renowned Anglican cleric and theologian who founded the Methodist movement. Born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, he played a pivotal role in the Protestant Reformation and had a profound impact on Christian theology and practices.

Another notable Wesley was Samuel Wesley (1662 - 1735), a poet and writer who served as a minister in the Church of England. He was also the father of John Wesley and Charles Wesley (1707 - 1788), who was a co-founder of the Methodist movement and a prolific hymn writer.

In the realm of literature, William Wesley (1837 - 1914) was a notable English bibliographer and bookseller, known for his expertise in natural history publications.

Throughout its history, the surname Wesley has been associated with various prominent individuals across fields such as religion, literature, and public service, reflecting the name's enduring presence and significance in English society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wesley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wesley 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. Leicestershire leads with 146 Wesleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.58x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 146 11.58x
Staffordshire 123 3.20x
Lancashire 113 0.84x
Middlesex 111 0.98x
Buckinghamshire 68 9.89x
Bedfordshire 67 11.38x
Nottinghamshire 60 3.91x
Northamptonshire 54 5.05x
Warwickshire 40 1.39x
Essex 36 1.60x
Surrey 34 0.61x
Cambridgeshire 30 4.16x
Hertfordshire 30 3.83x
Kent 27 0.70x
Cheshire 26 1.04x
Yorkshire 23 0.20x
Hampshire 22 0.94x
Suffolk 22 1.59x
Durham 21 0.62x
Northumberland 15 0.89x
Worcestershire 13 0.88x
Aberdeenshire 12 1.14x
Brecknockshire 11 4.84x
Lincolnshire 11 0.60x
Gloucestershire 10 0.45x
Sussex 8 0.42x
Derbyshire 6 0.34x
Somerset 6 0.33x
Carmarthenshire 5 1.04x
Devon 5 0.21x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.33x
Berkshire 2 0.23x
Cornwall 2 0.16x
Argyllshire 1 0.32x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolverhampton in Staffordshire leads with 43 Wesleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.57x.

Place Total Index
Wolverhampton 43 14.57x
Woodhouse 42 838.32x
Leicester St Margaret 29 9.43x
Nottingham St Mary 26 6.56x
Luton 22 21.58x
Preston 20 5.54x
Walsall Foreign 18 9.08x
Islington London 17 1.54x
Buckingham 16 114.37x
Lambeth 16 1.61x
Newtown Linford 16 851.06x
Radcliffe 16 24.59x
Rowley Regis 15 14.02x
St Marylebone London 15 2.47x
West Ham 15 3.03x
Birmingham 14 1.46x
St Luke London 13 7.13x
Stretham 13 252.43x
Nether Hallam 12 7.87x
Paulerspury 12 270.27x
Pavenham 12 705.88x
Slapton 12 1165.05x
Aston 11 1.39x
Hitchin 10 28.26x
Odell 10 606.06x
Tottenham 10 5.52x
Aylesbury 9 29.54x
Berkhampstead 9 51.05x
Birkenhead 9 4.50x
Burntwood Edial 9 36.70x
Cheddington 9 310.34x
Chelsea London 9 2.63x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 9 62.41x
Lenton 9 24.92x
Nacton 9 447.76x
Rushall 9 39.84x
Seagrave 9 638.30x
Southwick 9 347.49x
The Hill 9 94.34x
Leicester St Mary 8 7.85x
Macclesfield 8 7.17x
Manchester 8 1.32x
Ratby 8 126.58x
Sheepshed 8 46.30x
Snenton 8 13.28x
Tipton 8 6.80x
Willesden 8 7.46x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 3.26x
Coventry Holy Trinity 7 8.17x
Oswaldtwistle 7 14.68x
Passenham 7 159.45x
St Albans 7 43.59x
Addington 6 1153.85x
Burton Extra 6 27.26x
Cheltenham 6 3.49x
Coventry St Michael 6 6.51x
Fen Ditton 6 230.77x
Gateshead 6 2.37x
Harborne 6 4.88x
Hastings Holy Trinity 6 42.46x
Kensington London 6 0.95x
Llangattock 6 32.40x
Moss Side 6 8.45x
Shoreditch London 6 1.22x
Toxteth Park 6 1.31x
Tynemouth 6 6.62x
Wingate 6 25.86x
Worksop 6 13.20x
Blackburn 5 1.39x
Burton Latimer 5 77.40x
Eaton Bray 5 84.03x
Grantchester 5 111.61x
Kirkby In Ashfield 5 30.49x
Loughborough 5 8.74x
Pilkington 5 9.75x
Portsea 5 1.09x
St Botolph Lincoln 5 38.26x
Steeple Bumpstead 5 121.65x
Weston Favell 5 232.56x
Wigston Magna 5 29.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 78
John 75
George 49
Charles 40
Thomas 34
James 25
Joseph 25
Henry 21
Robert 17
Arthur 13
Frederick 11
Alfred 10
Walter 9
Edward 8
Harry 8
Albert 7
Samuel 7
David 6
Richard 6
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Matthew 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Frederic 4
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Isaac 3
Mary 3
Philip 3
Tom 3
Amos 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Andrew 1
Benjn.Rue 1
C.F. 1
Chas. 1
Dan 1
Dennis 1
Ed. 1
Edmond 1
Jessie 1
Jno. 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wesley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wesley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,173 people were recorded with the Wesley surname. That placed it at #3,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wesley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,948 in 2016. That gives Wesley a modern rank of #3,292.

What does the Wesley surname mean?

From a place name meaning "west meadow," or from a diminutive of the given name Wass.

What does the Wesley map show?

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