NameCensus.

UK surname

Wetton

A surname derived from a place name referring to a location near water or wetlands.

In the 1881 census there were 644 people recorded with the Wetton surname, ranking it #5,536 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,062, ranked #5,497, up from #5,536 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Werburgh and Alfreton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, Chorley and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wetton is 1,161 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.9%.

1881 census count

644

Ranked #5,536

Modern count

1,062

2016, ranked #5,497

Peak year

2010

1,161 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wetton had 644 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,536 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,062 in 2016, ranked #5,497.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,032 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wetton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wetton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wetton 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 542 #4,654
1861 historical 405 #6,337
1881 historical 644 #5,536
1891 historical 774 #5,182
1901 historical 802 #5,634
1911 historical 1,032 #4,445
1997 modern 1,059 #5,242
1998 modern 1,135 #5,113
1999 modern 1,152 #5,104
2000 modern 1,133 #5,146
2001 modern 1,111 #5,125
2002 modern 1,132 #5,160
2003 modern 1,091 #5,214
2004 modern 1,087 #5,242
2005 modern 1,094 #5,152
2006 modern 1,091 #5,174
2007 modern 1,108 #5,153
2008 modern 1,107 #5,192
2009 modern 1,136 #5,181
2010 modern 1,161 #5,192
2011 modern 1,124 #5,276
2012 modern 1,093 #5,320
2013 modern 1,086 #5,432
2014 modern 1,097 #5,407
2015 modern 1,083 #5,418
2016 modern 1,062 #5,497

Geography

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Where Wettons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Werburgh, Alfreton, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Crich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley, Chorley, Stafford and Newark and Sherwood. 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 Werburgh Derbyshire
3 Alfreton Derbyshire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Crich Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 002 Amber Valley
2 Chorley 013 Chorley
3 Stafford 010 Stafford
4 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
5 Stafford 013 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wetton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wetton

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Wetton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Wetton is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wetton falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wetton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wetton

The surname Wetton originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "waet" meaning wet or moist, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting it may have referred to someone who lived near a body of water or a marshy area.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where a William de Weton is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Weton," was common in early records and likely reflects the local dialect and pronunciation of the name.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Wetton" and "Wettone," in records from counties like Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire. This suggests that the name was prevalent in the West Midlands region of England during that time period.

The Wetton surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Wetton in Staffordshire and Wettenhall in Cheshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and distribution of the surname in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Wetton include:

1. John Wetton (1949-2017), an English singer and bassist best known as a founding member of the progressive rock band Asia. 2. Richard Wetton (c. 1575-1623), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Bunbury in Cheshire. 3. Thomas Wetton (c. 1630-1702), an English churchman who served as the Archdeacon of Staffordshire from 1689 until his death. 4. William Wetton (c. 1670-1738), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme from 1708 to 1722. 5. George Wetton (1789-1868), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Newnham, Gloucestershire.

While the surname Wetton has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and family history. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English language and the geographical features of the West Midlands region, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for those living near wet or marshy areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wetton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wetton 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 176 Wettons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.33x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 176 8.33x
Derbyshire 154 15.71x
Middlesex 87 1.39x
Lancashire 68 0.92x
Warwickshire 27 1.71x
Nottinghamshire 25 2.96x
Cheshire 19 1.37x
Surrey 14 0.46x
Yorkshire 11 0.18x
Norfolk 9 0.93x
Essex 8 0.65x
Shropshire 8 1.48x
Somerset 6 0.60x
Worcestershire 6 0.73x
Cumberland 5 0.93x
Monmouthshire 4 0.88x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.79x
Dorset 3 0.73x
Kent 3 0.14x
Leicestershire 2 0.29x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 44 Wettons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.63x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 44 19.63x
Lullington 28 1750.00x
Alfreton 20 67.14x
Seighford 17 1011.90x
Crich 16 250.00x
Tibshelf 16 332.64x
Bethnal Green London 13 4.78x
Darlaston 13 44.51x
Acton Trussell 12 1025.64x
Burton Upon Trent 12 24.26x
Islington London 12 1.98x
Derby St Werburgh 10 17.66x
Hornsey 10 12.63x
Aston 9 2.07x
Bollington In 9 73.17x
Hackney London 9 2.56x
Pinxton 9 180.72x
Salford 9 4.12x
Westleigh 9 53.32x
Windle 9 21.53x
Bedworth 8 69.44x
Mansfield 8 27.39x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 8 165.63x
Shirland 8 109.14x
Birmingham 7 1.33x
Horninglow 7 70.28x
Stone 7 25.89x
West Ham 7 2.56x
Wirksworth 7 78.56x
Castle Church 6 47.21x
Chelsea London 6 3.18x
Findern 6 689.66x
Handsworth 6 36.56x
Lambeth 6 1.10x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 22.74x
Oldbury 6 14.91x
Stafford St Mary 6 20.05x
Teddington London 6 42.28x
Aspull 5 28.60x
Belper 5 26.30x
Caldewgate 5 16.93x
Codnor Loscoe 5 64.43x
Colwich 5 99.60x
Kearsley 5 31.97x
Lichfield St Michael 5 75.41x
Manchester 5 1.50x
Nantwich 5 31.13x
Newborough 5 357.14x
St George In East 5 11.74x
St Pancras London 5 0.99x
Stowe 5 632.91x
Wigan 5 4.81x
Donington 4 470.59x
Hammersmith London 4 2.59x
Hulme 4 2.58x
Kensington London 4 1.15x
Long Eaton 4 30.91x
Middleton By Wirksworth 4 388.35x
Pendlebury 4 25.49x
Pentrich 4 72.46x
Shenstone 4 74.49x
Trevethin 4 9.36x
Woore 4 279.72x
Chesham 3 21.51x
Clowne 3 76.92x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 6.36x
Duffield 3 38.81x
Eccleshall 3 37.41x
Edingale 3 769.23x
Layton With Warbreck 3 11.00x
Leigh 3 214.29x
Pendleton In Salford 3 3.39x
Ripley 3 24.75x
Rotherhithe 3 3.88x
Rugeley 3 19.78x
Snenton 3 9.04x
Sturminster 3 75.19x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 9.43x
Derby St Alkmund 2 6.81x
Huntington 2 526.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 54
Elizabeth 36
Sarah 26
Emma 16
Ann 13
Annie 9
Eliza 9
Clara 8
Alice 7
Hannah 7
Jane 7
Martha 7
Ellen 6
Emily 6
Fanny 6
Agnes 5
Catherine 5
Charlotte 5
Louisa 5
Edith 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Lydia 4
Matilda 4
Eleanor 3
Ethel 3
Florence 3
Gertrude 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Marian 2
Maud 2
Rosina 2
Betsey 1
Betty 1
Cardine 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emelia 1
L. 1
Laura 1
Viole 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
John 30
Thomas 28
George 23
Joseph 23
Henry 18
James 15
Charles 11
Samuel 11
Alfred 9
Edward 8
Francis 6
Albert 5
Frank 5
Arthur 4
Walter 4
Edmund 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
Amos 2
Daniel 2
Eli 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
Joel 2
Richard 2
Danel 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Elvin 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Infant 1
Isreal 1
Jabez 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Lowry 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Sherrard 1
Simeon 1
Syrus 1
Thos. 1
W.E. 1

FAQ

Wetton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wetton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 644 people were recorded with the Wetton surname. That placed it at #5,536 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wetton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,062 in 2016. That gives Wetton a modern rank of #5,497.

What does the Wetton surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a location near water or wetlands.

What does the Wetton map show?

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