NameCensus.

UK surname

Whear

An English surname derived from a Welsh place name referring to someone from Whear.

In the 1881 census there were 153 people recorded with the Whear surname, ranking it #15,320 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, down from #15,320 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Devonport Stonehouse, East, Illogan and Phillack. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whear is 197 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.5%.

1881 census count

153

Ranked #15,320

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

1901

197 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whear had 153 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,320 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 197 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Whear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whear surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whear 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 119 #18,393
1881 historical 153 #15,320
1891 historical 158 #17,705
1901 historical 197 #15,272
1911 historical 183 #15,811
1997 modern 169 #19,578
1998 modern 174 #19,729
1999 modern 174 #19,870
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 172 #19,696
2002 modern 165 #20,619
2003 modern 169 #20,092
2004 modern 162 #20,756
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 162 #20,886
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 161 #21,431
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Whears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Devonport Stonehouse, East, Illogan, Phillack, Camborne and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Devonport Stonehouse, East Devon
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 Phillack Cornwall
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 052 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 053 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 071 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 055 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whear

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Whear is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Whear is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whear falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Whear

The surname Whear has its origins in England and is believed to date back to the early medieval period. Most likely, it originated in the southern counties of England, such as Devon and Cornwall. The name possibly derives from the Old English elements "hweorf," meaning corner or turn, or "weorf" suggesting a winding stream or path. Another possibility points to a topographic name denoting a place near a hill or a mound, related to the Old English word "hwearf," meaning a heap or bank.

Historical references to the surname Whear are relatively sparse, which suggests it may have been a localized surname, indicative of specific geographical features or small communities rather than widespread use. The earliest documented instance of the surname dates back to the late 12th century, featuring in land charters and regional tax records. One of the earliest mentions appears in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from 1191, where John le Whear is noted as a landowner.

Throughout history, the surname Whear has appeared in various spellings, including Wher, Whare, and Were, often dependent on regional dialects and the literacy of record-keepers. A notable instance is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Devon in 1332, where a William Were is recorded paying taxes, indicating the surname's ties to land ownership and regional significance.

Several famous individuals have carried the surname Whear. Among them is George Whear, born in 1573, a clergyman and scholar who made significant contributions to theological discourse in the early 17th century. Robert Whear, born in 1621, is another prominent figure, renowned as a chronicler whose works provided valuable insights into the customs and governance of his time. Anne Whear, a poet born in 1710, gained some recognition for her poignant verses that reflected rural life in Devon.

Colonel Thomas Whear, born in 1745, played a distinguished role in military history, serving with the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. His leadership and strategic acumen were well documented in various military correspondences and historical accounts of the period. Lastly, Elizabeth Whear, born in 1803, became known for her philanthropic endeavors, particularly her work in improving education and health conditions in rural England during the Victorian era.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Whear has maintained a presence in historical records, reflecting a lineage tied to specific localities and roles within medieval and early modern English society. The name's endurance and evolution mirror the changes in language, societal structure, and geographical mobility, ensuring its place in the rich tapestry of English onomatology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whear 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. Cornwall leads with 132 Whears recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.62x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 132 77.62x
Devon 7 2.24x
Essex 5 1.69x
Norfolk 3 1.30x
Northamptonshire 3 2.12x
Middlesex 2 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 5.59x
Surrey 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camborne in Cornwall leads with 47 Whears recorded in 1881 and an index of 670.47x.

Place Total Index
Camborne 47 670.47x
Illogan 19 422.22x
Phillack 18 818.18x
St Erth 18 1747.57x
Gwinear 9 1111.11x
Madron Penzance 8 129.45x
Gulval 6 550.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 24.91x
West Ham 4 6.11x
East Dereham 3 102.74x
Ludgvan 3 220.59x
Peterborough 3 29.33x
East Ham 1 18.18x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 31.35x
Germoe 1 333.33x
Kensington London 1 1.20x
Kilkhampton 1 200.00x
Mawgan In Meneage 1 227.27x
Royal Navy 1 6.54x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.31x
St Gregory By St Pauls 1 263.16x
St Mary Magdalene 1 80.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 9
Ellen 5
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Grace 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Christian 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Maria 2
A.Jane 1
Adelina 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bessey 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Joannie 1
Kate 1
Lavina 1
Minnie 1
Mirriam 1
Sara 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 11
Samuel 9
Edward 4
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
James 2
Nathaniel 2
Phillip 2
Albert 1
Chas.Faull 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Emanuel 1
Emmanuel 1
George 1
Johney 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Mathew 1
Nicholas 1
Richd.Prior 1
Sam 1
Thos. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Whear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 153 people were recorded with the Whear surname. That placed it at #15,320 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Whear a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Whear surname mean?

An English surname derived from a Welsh place name referring to someone from Whear.

What does the Whear map show?

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