NameCensus.

UK surname

Wheater

A surname denoting one who threshed or winnowed grain.

In the 1881 census there were 377 people recorded with the Wheater surname, ranking it #8,309 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 431, ranked #11,170, down from #8,309 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Bradford and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, West Lindsey and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wheater is 480 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.3%.

1881 census count

377

Ranked #8,309

Modern count

431

2016, ranked #11,170

Peak year

2002

480 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wheater had 377 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,309 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 431 in 2016, ranked #11,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 438 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Wheater surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wheater surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wheater 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 258 #8,568
1861 historical 344 #7,422
1881 historical 377 #8,309
1891 historical 438 #8,234
1901 historical 406 #9,393
1911 historical 404 #9,221
1997 modern 443 #10,189
1998 modern 451 #10,393
1999 modern 474 #10,055
2000 modern 474 #10,029
2001 modern 456 #10,136
2002 modern 480 #9,940
2003 modern 459 #10,113
2004 modern 445 #10,418
2005 modern 447 #10,266
2006 modern 444 #10,347
2007 modern 445 #10,428
2008 modern 452 #10,369
2009 modern 453 #10,611
2010 modern 460 #10,719
2011 modern 451 #10,766
2012 modern 438 #10,896
2013 modern 441 #11,016
2014 modern 441 #11,082
2015 modern 430 #11,226
2016 modern 431 #11,170

Geography

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Where Wheaters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Bradford, Sheffield, Castleford and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, West Lindsey, Wakefield, Torfaen and Redbridge. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Castleford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
2 West Lindsey 002 West Lindsey
3 Wakefield 042 Wakefield
4 Torfaen 010 Torfaen
5 Redbridge 001 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wheater

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wheater

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Wheater surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Wheater household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Wheater 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

Wheater is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wheater falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wheater

The surname Wheater originates from England, specifically from the northern regions such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have arisen in the Middle Ages, around the 12th to 14th centuries. The name likely derives from the Old English word hwæte, which means "wheat," suggesting that the original bearers of the surname were involved in agriculture, possibly as wheat farmers or millers.

The name Wheater has appeared in various historical documents over the centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire dated 1379, where a John Wheter is mentioned. The document highlights the use of similar spellings such as Wheter, which eventually evolved into the modern-day Wheater.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Wheater name continued to be prevalent in northern England. One notable early mention is that of Robert Wheater, a yeoman recorded in the Wakefield Court Rolls in 1572. These records suggest that the Wheater family had become established landowners, playing a significant role in local agricultural communities.

By the 19th century, several noteworthy individuals with the surname Wheater emerged. One such person was Benjamin Wheater, born in 1802 in Bradford, Yorkshire. He was a prominent solicitor and became the Mayor of Bradford in 1855, reflecting the ascent of the Wheater name into more influential societal positions.

In addition to political figures, the surname is also associated with academia. Thomas Wheater, born in 1840, was a respected schoolmaster in Lancashire. His contributions to education in the region were well-regarded, highlighting the diverse roles people bearing the Wheater surname occupied.

In the realm of sports, Jimmy Wheater, born in 1924 in Leeds, Yorkshire, made his mark as a professional footballer. He played as a goalkeeper for teams like Bradford City and Darlington during the 1940s and 1950s, showcasing the surname's presence in various facets of public life.

Though the surname Wheater is relatively rare, its historical roots clearly trace back to agricultural origins in northern England. The Wheater name has a rich heritage, with instances documented over centuries and its bearers contributing to local politics, education, and sports.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wheater families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wheater 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 323 Wheaters recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.86x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 323 8.86x
Durham 24 2.19x
Lancashire 13 0.30x
Leicestershire 4 0.98x
Lincolnshire 4 0.68x
Middlesex 4 0.11x
Northumberland 2 0.37x
Devon 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Kent 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Castleford in Yorkshire leads with 24 Wheaters recorded in 1881 and an index of 180.86x.

Place Total Index
Castleford 24 180.86x
Bowling 22 60.96x
Bradford 21 23.80x
Manningham 14 31.19x
Brightside Bierlow 13 18.19x
Leeds 13 6.32x
Calverley Cum Farsley 12 115.94x
Keighley 12 30.90x
Headingley Cum Burley 11 46.89x
Gateshead 10 12.21x
Guisbrough 10 125.63x
North Bierley 10 50.81x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 9 68.03x
Bradford Girlington 9 552.15x
Tong 9 127.84x
Beeston 8 216.80x
Holbeck 7 29.00x
Horton In Bradford 7 12.30x
Newchurch 7 19.61x
Newton Cap 7 411.76x
Wortley In Bramley 7 24.26x
Aislaby In Pickering 6 3529.41x
Barkstone Ash 6 1395.35x
Haworth 6 69.28x
Hillam 6 1463.41x
Newington 6 59.76x
Womersley 6 1250.00x
Farnley In Bramley 5 109.89x
Hirst Courtney 5 3571.43x
Ovenden 5 30.83x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.50x
Bramley In Bramley 4 28.67x
Burn 4 930.23x
Carlton In Selby 4 425.53x
Great Grimsby 4 10.72x
Horsforth 4 50.06x
Kimberworth 4 19.77x
Leicester St Mary 4 12.14x
Pudsey 4 20.53x
Batley 3 8.66x
Bolton In Bradford 3 128.21x
Hunwick Helmington 3 114.07x
Mexborough 3 41.49x
Morton Grange 3 1250.00x
Ackworth 2 71.43x
Ferry Fryston 2 140.85x
Gorton 2 4.88x
North Meols 2 4.68x
Riccall 2 202.02x
Sedburgh 2 131.58x
Adwick Le Street 1 312.50x
Armley 1 6.22x
Doncaster 1 3.76x
Glass Houghton 1 75.76x
Great Ouseburn 1 158.73x
Haltwhistle 1 37.74x
Holy Trinity 1 1.14x
Ledsham 1 294.12x
Micklefield 1 114.94x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.53x
Newton Kyme Cum 1 500.00x
Northfleet 1 9.05x
Norton In Doncaster 1 135.14x
Portsmouth 1 5.76x
Poulton Barre 1 20.16x
Sowerby In Halifax 1 8.39x
Stanhope 1 8.85x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.87x
Thorne 1 22.12x
Wakefield 1 3.57x
Withington 1 7.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 28
Mary 21
Elizabeth 11
Eliza 8
Ann 7
Hannah 7
Martha 7
Ada 6
Alice 6
Annie 6
Emma 6
Clara 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Matilda 4
Kate 3
Maria 3
Ruth 3
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Ethel 2
Margaret 2
Nancy 2
Bessy 1
Betty 1
Blanche 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz 1
Ella 1
Ellen 1
Emelia 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Grac 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Lisor 1
Lydia 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Winfreda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 26
James 15
George 10
Thomas 10
Joseph 8
Harry 6
Charles 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Joshua 3
Ralph 3
Albert 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Isaac 2
Jonas 2
Nelson 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Christopher 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Elzra 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Fred. 1
Hammerded 1
Henery 1
Hiram 1
Lancelot 1
Laurence 1
Leo 1
Mark 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Robinson 1
Sam 1
Sam. 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Wheater surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wheater surname in 1881?

In 1881, 377 people were recorded with the Wheater surname. That placed it at #8,309 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wheater surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 431 in 2016. That gives Wheater a modern rank of #11,170.

What does the Wheater surname mean?

A surname denoting one who threshed or winnowed grain.

What does the Wheater map show?

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