NameCensus.

UK surname

Wharram

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Wharram, Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Wharram surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 148, ranked #23,958, down from #16,515 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Fridaythorpe, London parishes and Langtoft. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, South Lakeland and Gosport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wharram is 224 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.6%.

1881 census count

135

Ranked #16,515

Modern count

148

2016, ranked #23,958

Peak year

1911

224 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wharram had 135 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,515 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016, ranked #23,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 224 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Wharram surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wharram surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wharram 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 94 #17,837
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 135 #16,515
1891 historical 130 #20,173
1901 historical 199 #15,173
1911 historical 224 #13,914
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 150 #21,781
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 152 #21,723
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 137 #23,590
2008 modern 135 #24,123
2009 modern 141 #23,907
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 148 #23,958

Geography

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Where Wharrams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Fridaythorpe, London parishes, Langtoft, Driffield and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, South Lakeland, Gosport, Sheffield and North 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 Fridaythorpe Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Langtoft Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Driffield Yorkshire, East Riding
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 035 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 South Lakeland 003 South Lakeland
3 Gosport 002 Gosport
4 Sheffield 021 Sheffield
5 North Somerset 011 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wharram

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wharram

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Wharram is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wharram 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

Wharram falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wharram

The surname WHARRAM is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "hwær" meaning "corner" or "nook", and the Old Norse word "hramsi" meaning "wild garlic". This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a remote corner or nook where wild garlic grew.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Willelmus de Wharram, who was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding lands in the village of Wharram-le-Street in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The village of Wharram-le-Street itself is believed to have been named after the WHARRAM family, who were likely among the earliest settlers in the area. The name of the village has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Wharram, Whareham, and Wharrom.

A notable figure in history with the surname WHARRAM was Sir John Wharram (c. 1490-1554), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He served as Lord Mayor of York in 1536 and played a significant role in the city's affairs during the tumultuous years of the English Reformation.

Another individual of note was Robert Wharram (c. 1609-1673), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Stow and Huntingdon in the Church of England. He was a prominent figure in the religious and academic circles of his time.

In the 18th century, William Wharram (1720-1798) was a successful merchant and ship owner based in Bristol, England. He was involved in the lucrative West Indies trade and amassed considerable wealth, which he used to support various philanthropic endeavors.

Moving into the 19th century, John Wharram (1806-1879) was a notable architect and surveyor who worked on numerous projects in Yorkshire and the surrounding regions. He was responsible for the design of several churches, public buildings, and private residences in the Gothic Revival style.

Lastly, Edward Wharram (1865-1942) was a respected archaeologist and historian who dedicated much of his life to studying the ancient ruins and settlements of Yorkshire. His extensive research and findings significantly contributed to our understanding of the region's rich history and cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wharram families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wharram 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. Yorkshire leads with 87 Wharrams recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.67x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 87 6.67x
Surrey 21 3.27x
Middlesex 10 0.76x
Lancashire 7 0.45x
Essex 5 1.92x
Cambridgeshire 4 4.80x
Lincolnshire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Langtoft in Yorkshire leads with 22 Wharrams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7857.14x.

Place Total Index
Langtoft 22 7857.14x
Haisthorpe 8 13333.33x
Kilham 7 1272.73x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 26.43x
York St Mary 7 129.63x
Clerkenwell London 5 16.09x
Cottam 5 10000.00x
Fridaythorpe 5 3571.43x
Newington 5 10.28x
Newton 5 41.53x
Rotherhithe 5 30.73x
Shoreditch London 5 8.76x
Walthamstow 5 53.48x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 4 109.89x
Skerne 4 5000.00x
Skirpenbeck 4 5714.29x
Warter 4 1481.48x
Camberwell 3 3.57x
Harpham 3 2727.27x
Hutton Cranswick 3 545.45x
Naburn 3 1153.85x
Clifton In York 2 73.26x
Great Driffield 2 74.63x
Pendleton In Salford 2 10.75x
Beeford 1 312.50x
Burgh In Marsh 1 196.08x
Gembling 1 2000.00x
Great Kelk 1 1250.00x
Nafferton 1 178.57x
New Malton 1 64.10x
North Dalton 1 454.55x
Richmond 1 11.12x
Rudston 1 370.37x
Tibthorpe 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Annie 6
Sarah 6
Ann 3
Jane 3
Emily 2
Margaret 2
Maryann 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emiley 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Letitia 1
Lois 1
Lucy 1
Margt 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
My.Ann 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 10
Thomas 5
Frank 4
Arthur 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Robert 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
George 2
Henry 2
Nessfield 2
Richard 2
Aaron 1
Elgey 1
Emmerson 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Heuston 1
James 1
Matthew 1
Matthias 1
Mattias 1
Simpson 1
Summers 1
Thos.C. 1
Tindale 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wharram surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wharram surname in 1881?

In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Wharram surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wharram surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016. That gives Wharram a modern rank of #23,958.

What does the Wharram surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Wharram, Yorkshire.

What does the Wharram map show?

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