NameCensus.

UK surname

Whawell

In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Whawell surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, down from #26,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duffield, Willesden and Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Ashfield and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whawell is 148 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 128.0%.

1881 census count

50

Ranked #26,587

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

1998

148 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whawell had 50 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 125 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whawell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whawell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whawell 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 77 #23,975
1881 historical 50 #26,587
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 90 #24,021
1911 historical 125 #19,932
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 148 #21,841
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 146 #22,302
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 133 #23,528
2005 modern 124 #24,529
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 123 #25,208
2008 modern 125 #25,249
2009 modern 123 #26,098
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Whawells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duffield, Willesden, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Eckington and Staveley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Ashfield, Amber Valley, Shepway and Nottingham. 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 Duffield Derbyshire
2 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
4 Eckington Derbyshire
5 Staveley Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 001 Doncaster
2 Ashfield 003 Ashfield
3 Amber Valley 008 Amber Valley
4 Shepway 005 Shepway
5 Nottingham 002 Nottingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whawell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whawell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Whawell is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Whawell 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

Whawell 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 Whawell 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 Whawell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Whawell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whawell 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. Derbyshire leads with 36 Whawells recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.12x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 36 48.12x
Lancashire 8 1.41x
Middlesex 3 0.63x
Essex 1 1.06x
Yorkshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heage in Derbyshire leads with 15 Whawells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3750.00x.

Place Total Index
Heage 15 3750.00x
Staveley 7 526.32x
Eckington 6 329.67x
Morton 6 4285.71x
Turton 5 537.63x
Hulme 3 25.34x
St George Martyr 2 246.91x
Chiswick 1 38.31x
Grays Thurrock 1 113.64x
Litchurch 1 33.22x
Matlock 1 100.00x
Meltham 1 135.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Mary 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Hannah 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Lois 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
John 5
Charles 4
Elias 2
George 2
Gilbert 2
Alfred 1
Chas. 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Ralph 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Whawell households.

FAQ

Whawell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whawell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Whawell surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whawell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Whawell a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Whawell map show?

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