NameCensus.

UK surname

Whatley

An English habitational surname derived from places in Essex and Somerset, likely meaning "wheat meadow" or "woodland clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 1,159 people recorded with the Whatley surname, ranking it #3,459 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,976, ranked #3,256, up from #3,459 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Barford St Martin, Baverstock and Trowbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whatley is 2,155 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.5%.

1881 census count

1,159

Ranked #3,459

Modern count

1,976

2016, ranked #3,256

Peak year

1999

2,155 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whatley had 1,159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,459 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,976 in 2016, ranked #3,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,765 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whatley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whatley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whatley 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 778 #3,430
1861 historical 755 #3,622
1881 historical 1,159 #3,459
1891 historical 1,237 #3,490
1901 historical 1,597 #3,235
1911 historical 1,765 #2,783
1997 modern 2,063 #2,981
1998 modern 2,125 #3,007
1999 modern 2,155 #2,995
2000 modern 2,097 #3,050
2001 modern 2,040 #3,066
2002 modern 2,122 #3,016
2003 modern 2,064 #3,037
2004 modern 2,078 #3,021
2005 modern 2,002 #3,086
2006 modern 1,989 #3,108
2007 modern 1,980 #3,154
2008 modern 1,969 #3,180
2009 modern 2,020 #3,187
2010 modern 2,026 #3,242
2011 modern 1,984 #3,251
2012 modern 1,931 #3,281
2013 modern 2,007 #3,234
2014 modern 1,995 #3,265
2015 modern 1,991 #3,254
2016 modern 1,976 #3,256

Geography

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Where Whatleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Barford St Martin, Baverstock, Trowbridge, London parishes and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly and Wiltshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Barford St Martin, Baverstock Wiltshire
3 Trowbridge Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 014 Caerphilly
2 Caerphilly 016 Caerphilly
3 Caerphilly 015 Caerphilly
4 Caerphilly 017 Caerphilly
5 Wiltshire 054 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whatley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whatley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Whatley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Whatley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whatley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Whatley

The surname Whatley is of English origin, with its earliest roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational surname, derived from a place name. The most likely origin is the village of Whatley in Somerset, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Watelie."

The name Whatley is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hwæt" meaning "wheat" and "leah" meaning "a clearing or meadow." This suggests that the original bearer of the surname may have lived near a wheat field or a clearing where wheat was grown.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Whatley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from 1196, where a person named Robert de Whateleg is mentioned. This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time.

In the 13th century, records show the name appearing as "de Whateleye" and "de Whatelie," further indicating its locational origins. During this period, the use of surnames was becoming more widespread, and individuals often took their surnames from the place where they lived or were born.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Whatley throughout history include Sir William Whatley (1583-1639), an English Member of Parliament and landowner in Somerset. Another prominent figure was Robert Whatley (1661-1720), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Stockton-on-Tees.

In the 18th century, Archibald Whatley (1726-1805) was a renowned English banker and merchant who played a significant role in the financial affairs of the British East India Company. During the same period, Samuel Whatley (1768-1837) was a Church of England clergyman and author, known for his sermons and religious writings.

Moving into the 19th century, John Whatley (1795-1860) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several notable battles during the Napoleonic Wars. He later became a prolific writer and published works on naval history and strategy.

These examples showcase the widespread presence of the surname Whatley throughout English history, with individuals from various professions and backgrounds bearing this name. While the exact origins may be shrouded in the mists of time, the locational roots and connections to the village of Whatley in Somerset remain a plausible and widely accepted explanation for the surname's origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whatley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whatley 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. Wiltshire leads with 424 Whatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.44x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 424 42.44x
Middlesex 117 1.04x
Somerset 104 5.72x
Hampshire 89 3.84x
Surrey 80 1.45x
Gloucestershire 51 2.30x
Monmouthshire 36 4.41x
Worcestershire 35 2.37x
Kent 33 0.86x
Lancashire 20 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 16 2.34x
Glamorgan 15 0.76x
Warwickshire 14 0.49x
Yorkshire 14 0.13x
Staffordshire 12 0.31x
Berkshire 11 1.30x
Dorset 11 1.48x
Herefordshire 10 2.16x
Leicestershire 10 0.80x
Devon 9 0.38x
Norfolk 9 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.53x
Durham 6 0.18x
Sussex 6 0.32x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.84x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Essex 2 0.09x
Oxfordshire 2 0.29x
Royal Navy 2 1.49x
Bedfordshire 1 0.17x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.45x
Shropshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warminster in Wiltshire leads with 61 Whatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 278.67x.

Place Total Index
Warminster 61 278.67x
Barford St Martin 38 2099.45x
Westbury 34 145.80x
Wilton 33 467.42x
Kidderminster Borough 32 37.06x
Sutton Veney 28 996.44x
Lonbridge Deverill 26 740.74x
Trowbridge 21 47.55x
St Marylebone London 19 3.15x
Newington 18 4.31x
Deptford St Paul 17 5.72x
Frome 17 39.09x
Lambeth 17 1.73x
Battersea 15 3.61x
Heytesbury 14 383.56x
Mile End Old Town 13 7.29x
Salisbury St Edmund 12 74.81x
Camberwell 11 1.52x
Lewisham 11 5.35x
Mynyddyslwyn 11 34.15x
Steeple Langford 11 544.55x
Bradford On Avon 10 31.27x
Bristol St George 10 9.76x
Dinton 10 564.97x
Paddington London 10 2.41x
Upton Lovell 10 1250.00x
Clifton 9 8.04x
Corsley 9 228.43x
Middlesbrough 9 6.17x
Risca 9 58.48x
Aberystruth 8 11.11x
Bullington 8 1311.48x
Gillingham 8 62.79x
Highworth 8 62.65x
Hordle 8 198.51x
Kensington London 8 1.27x
Laverstoke 8 1142.86x
Llanover 8 28.68x
Milford 8 118.34x
Nunney 8 203.05x
Tormoham 8 8.04x
Walcot 8 8.26x
Aston Ingham 7 460.53x
Eling 7 29.85x
Fittleton 7 522.39x
Fugglestone St Peter 7 176.77x
Islington London 7 0.64x
Lyncombe Widcombe 7 14.70x
Portsea 7 1.54x
Salford 7 1.78x
Shepton Mallet 7 34.31x
Water Eaton 7 729.17x
Barrow In Furness 6 3.29x
Carisbrooke 6 18.67x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 7.05x
Coxhoe 6 62.89x
Earley 6 42.46x
Horningsham 6 191.08x
Keynsham 6 45.94x
Kings Somborne 6 123.46x
Leicester St Margaret 6 1.96x
Midsomer Norton 6 35.03x
Pewsey 6 81.63x
Southampton St Mary 6 4.12x
Stratton St Margaret 6 39.16x
Tottenham 6 3.34x
Twerton 6 32.00x
Wednesfield 6 10.69x
Wellow 6 112.15x
Ystradyfodwg 6 3.48x
Basford 5 7.12x
Bath St Peter St Paul 5 62.19x
Codford St Peter 5 406.50x
Hampstead London 5 2.84x
Havant 5 42.66x
Kingstanley 5 61.05x
Melksham 5 28.82x
North Bradley 5 68.59x
St George Hanover 5 3.39x
Winchfield 5 352.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Elizabeth 38
Sarah 32
Ellen 27
Ann 25
Eliza 24
Emily 24
Emma 22
Jane 19
Alice 16
Florence 15
Annie 14
Harriet 11
Charlotte 10
Louisa 10
Martha 10
Caroline 9
Fanny 9
Kate 9
Maria 8
Susan 8
Amelia 7
Hannah 7
Rose 7
Frances 6
Julia 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Selina 5
Isabella 4
Mercy 4
Rebecca 4
Rhoda 4
Beatrice 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Georgina 3
Helen 3
Jessie 3
Lydia 3
Margaretta 3
Matilda 3
Ruth 3
Agnes 2
Edith 2
Mabel 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Nelly 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 69
John 57
George 44
Thomas 42
Charles 36
James 34
Henry 28
Albert 16
Frank 16
Herbert 14
Edward 12
Frederick 11
Arthur 10
Joseph 10
Robert 9
Samuel 9
Harry 8
Alfred 7
Walter 7
Ernest 6
Francis 6
Tom 6
Richard 5
Edwin 4
Fred 4
Mark 4
Sidney 4
Thos. 4
Bernard 3
Ebenezer 3
Stephen 3
Chas. 2
Elias 2
Fredrick 2
Georg 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
Jonathan 2
Joshua 2
Laban 2
Lewis 2
Oliver 2
Wm. 2
Aurthur 1
Charley 1
Clara 1
Enoch 1
Evi 1
F.Ernest 1
Jno. 1

FAQ

Whatley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whatley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,159 people were recorded with the Whatley surname. That placed it at #3,459 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whatley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,976 in 2016. That gives Whatley a modern rank of #3,256.

What does the Whatley surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from places in Essex and Somerset, likely meaning "wheat meadow" or "woodland clearing."

What does the Whatley map show?

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