NameCensus.

UK surname

Wheatley

From a place name meaning "wheat meadow" in Old English, or a person who lived near a wheat field.

In the 1881 census there were 6,102 people recorded with the Wheatley surname, ranking it #718 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,485, ranked #678, up from #718 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Erewash, Derby and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wheatley is 9,874 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.4%.

1881 census count

6,102

Ranked #718

Modern count

9,485

2016, ranked #678

Peak year

1999

9,874 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wheatley had 6,102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #718 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,485 in 2016, ranked #678.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9,192 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wheatley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wheatley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wheatley 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 3,488 #817
1861 historical 3,475 #815
1881 historical 6,102 #718
1891 historical 6,839 #662
1901 historical 8,426 #636
1911 historical 9,192 #532
1997 modern 9,524 #660
1998 modern 9,860 #659
1999 modern 9,874 #664
2000 modern 9,756 #669
2001 modern 9,588 #663
2002 modern 9,765 #669
2003 modern 9,569 #668
2004 modern 9,636 #658
2005 modern 9,395 #667
2006 modern 9,323 #669
2007 modern 9,382 #669
2008 modern 9,373 #675
2009 modern 9,537 #684
2010 modern 9,660 #692
2011 modern 9,609 #683
2012 modern 9,476 #675
2013 modern 9,643 #675
2014 modern 9,675 #678
2015 modern 9,547 #676
2016 modern 9,485 #678

Geography

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Where Wheatleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Erewash, Derby and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Erewash 001 Erewash
2 Erewash 003 Erewash
3 Derby 014 Derby
4 County Durham 059 County Durham
5 Erewash 016 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wheatley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wheatley

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

Wheatley 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

Wheatley falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wheatley

The surname Wheatley has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "hwæte" meaning wheat, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, essentially translating to "wheat meadow." This indicates that the name likely originated as a place name for a settlement or area known for its wheat cultivation.

The name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hwætelei" and "Watelea," referring to various locations in counties like Nottinghamshire and Gloucestershire. These early spellings demonstrate the evolution of the name over time, reflecting the changes in language and pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Wheatley was John de Wheatley, who lived in Gloucestershire in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Wheatley (c. 1535-1612), an English judge and legal writer during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the name Wheatley was associated with several prominent individuals, including Benjamin Wheatley (1602-1681), an English Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Stratford, Connecticut, in the American colonies. Another notable bearer was Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784), an African-American poet and the first African-American author to have a book published.

The 18th century saw the rise of the Wheatley family of Yorkshire, with Charles Wheatley (1686-1742) being a renowned painter and engraver. His son, Francis Wheatley (1747-1801), also achieved fame as a portrait painter and was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1791.

In the 19th century, the name was associated with James Wheatley (1806-1869), a British inventor and engineer who contributed significantly to the development of the modern steam engine. Another notable figure was William Wheatley (1865-1950), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

The surname Wheatley has a rich history rooted in England's agricultural past and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including writers, artists, clergymen, inventors, and sportsmen. Its enduring presence in the English-speaking world reflects the diverse contributions made by those who carried this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wheatley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wheatley 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 840 Wheatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.42x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 840 1.42x
Middlesex 758 1.27x
Durham 577 3.26x
Derbyshire 532 5.71x
Surrey 380 1.31x
Nottinghamshire 323 4.03x
Kent 255 1.26x
Warwickshire 250 1.67x
Staffordshire 209 1.04x
Northumberland 196 2.21x
Leicestershire 192 2.91x
Bedfordshire 171 5.55x
Sussex 165 1.64x
Lancashire 159 0.23x
Lincolnshire 155 1.63x
Northamptonshire 97 1.73x
Berkshire 83 1.86x
Worcestershire 79 1.02x
Essex 78 0.66x
Hampshire 70 0.57x
Gloucestershire 64 0.55x
Cheshire 62 0.47x
Huntingdonshire 47 3.98x
Hertfordshire 40 0.98x
Dorset 31 0.79x
Buckinghamshire 30 0.83x
Oxfordshire 27 0.73x
Norfolk 22 0.24x
Somerset 20 0.21x
Angus 19 0.34x
Cumberland 19 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 18 0.48x
Devon 16 0.13x
Wiltshire 15 0.29x
Glamorgan 12 0.12x
Shropshire 12 0.23x
Lanarkshire 11 0.06x
Inverness-shire 10 0.56x
Wigtownshire 10 1.27x
Midlothian 9 0.11x
Fife 6 0.17x
Kincardineshire 5 0.69x
Perthshire 5 0.19x
Flintshire 4 0.25x
Royal Navy 4 0.56x
Herefordshire 3 0.12x
Monmouthshire 3 0.07x
Cardiganshire 2 0.14x
Denbighshire 2 0.09x
Ayrshire 1 0.02x
Channel Islands 1 0.06x
Cornwall 1 0.01x
Radnorshire 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. Ilkeston in Derbyshire leads with 129 Wheatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.38x.

Place Total Index
Ilkeston 129 49.38x
Nottingham St Mary 102 4.92x
West Bromwich 98 8.52x
Leeds 94 2.82x
Islington London 93 1.61x
St Pancras London 74 1.54x
Walton On Thames 56 42.06x
Leicester St Margaret 55 3.42x
Kensington London 53 1.60x
Bethnal Green London 52 2.01x
Gateshead 51 3.85x
Birmingham 50 1.00x
Ockbrook 47 118.81x
Ecclesall Bierlow 45 3.75x
Lambeth 45 0.87x
Stockton On Tees 45 5.27x
Hackney London 41 1.23x
Chesterfield 39 11.17x
St George Hanover 38 4.89x
Northill 37 128.34x
Nether Hallam 35 4.39x
St Marylebone London 35 1.10x
Aston 32 0.77x
Chelsea London 32 1.78x
Bromley London 31 2.37x
Basford 30 8.11x
Horsley 30 53.51x
Tonbridge 30 4.10x
Dale Abbey 29 349.82x
Derby St Werburgh 29 5.39x
Newington 29 1.32x
Biggleswade 28 27.74x
Stroud 28 12.33x
Whitworth 27 20.83x
Bermondsey 26 1.47x
Polesworth 26 36.49x
Cossall 25 503.02x
Bramley In Bramley 24 10.63x
West Ham 24 0.93x
Brimington 23 32.51x
Hartfield 23 72.46x
Rotherhithe 23 3.13x
Belper 22 12.18x
Deptford St Paul 22 1.40x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 22 2.87x
Monks Coppenhall 22 4.44x
Ryton Woodside 22 99.73x
Stoke Upon Trent 22 1.03x
Arlesey 21 54.00x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 21 3.97x
Lewisham 20 1.85x
Loughborough 20 6.68x
Rotherfield 20 22.64x
Shoreditch London 20 0.78x
St George Martyr 20 19.94x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 20 14.94x
Whickham 20 12.28x
Arnold 19 16.23x
Drighlington 19 22.12x
Kingston On Thames 19 2.73x
Longbenton 19 5.07x
Mile End Old Town 19 2.02x
Newark Upon Trent 19 6.59x
Huddersfield 18 2.10x
Paddington London 18 0.82x
Radford 18 4.42x
Arlington 17 142.14x
Bedlington 17 5.75x
Bishop Auckland 17 7.16x
Bishopwearmouth 17 1.12x
Bow London 17 2.24x
Headingley Cum Burley 17 4.48x
Hinckley 17 10.86x
Pelton 17 20.18x
Walthamstow 17 4.02x
Wandsworth 17 2.97x
Bradford 16 1.12x
Chester Le Street 16 11.77x
Derby St Alkmund 16 5.73x
Everton 16 0.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 403
Elizabeth 225
Sarah 223
Ann 118
Jane 115
Annie 96
Eliza 95
Emma 94
Alice 93
Hannah 79
Ellen 67
Emily 67
Margaret 54
Martha 47
Maria 44
Charlotte 39
Caroline 36
Clara 36
Harriet 36
Catherine 34
Frances 34
Louisa 34
Ada 33
Fanny 32
Kate 31
Florence 28
Rose 27
Anne 26
Lucy 26
Edith 25
Isabella 25
Harriett 20
Rebecca 17
Susan 17
Matilda 15
Sophia 15
Agnes 14
Bertha 14
Elizth. 14
Julia 14
Ruth 14
Amy 13
Minnie 13
Selina 13
Eleanor 11
Ethel 11
Amelia 10
Susannah 10
Gertrude 9
Henrietta 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 381
John 323
George 246
Thomas 196
James 172
Joseph 136
Charles 131
Henry 107
Samuel 78
Arthur 75
Alfred 69
Edward 62
Robert 57
Harry 50
Frederick 48
Albert 44
Richard 39
Walter 36
Frank 32
Herbert 25
Wm. 25
Ernest 22
Fred 20
Benjamin 19
David 18
Isaac 17
Ralph 17
Thos. 17
Tom 14
Michael 12
Mark 11
Edwin 10
Francis 10
Geo. 10
Percy 10
Daniel 9
Christopher 8
Fredk. 8
Reuben 8
Horace 7
Josiah 7
Alexander 6
Edmund 6
Jesse 6
Joshua 6
Matthew 6
Sidney 6
Stephen 6
Willie 6
Willm. 6

FAQ

Wheatley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wheatley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,102 people were recorded with the Wheatley surname. That placed it at #718 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wheatley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,485 in 2016. That gives Wheatley a modern rank of #678.

What does the Wheatley surname mean?

From a place name meaning "wheat meadow" in Old English, or a person who lived near a wheat field.

What does the Wheatley map show?

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