NameCensus.

UK surname

Wheeldon

A locational surname derived from an English place name referring to someone from Wheeldon Farm.

In the 1881 census there were 1,476 people recorded with the Wheeldon surname, ranking it #2,829 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,414, ranked #2,729, up from #2,829 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Alkmund, Stockport and Burton-on-Trent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wheeldon is 2,608 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.6%.

1881 census count

1,476

Ranked #2,829

Modern count

2,414

2016, ranked #2,729

Peak year

1998

2,608 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wheeldon had 1,476 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,829 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,414 in 2016, ranked #2,729.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,357 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wheeldon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wheeldon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wheeldon 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 967 #2,884
1861 historical 877 #3,166
1881 historical 1,476 #2,829
1891 historical 1,680 #2,683
1901 historical 2,079 #2,579
1911 historical 2,357 #2,170
1997 modern 2,436 #2,583
1998 modern 2,608 #2,509
1999 modern 2,597 #2,535
2000 modern 2,594 #2,527
2001 modern 2,547 #2,521
2002 modern 2,547 #2,573
2003 modern 2,473 #2,589
2004 modern 2,449 #2,616
2005 modern 2,405 #2,628
2006 modern 2,391 #2,639
2007 modern 2,406 #2,651
2008 modern 2,424 #2,649
2009 modern 2,492 #2,650
2010 modern 2,501 #2,698
2011 modern 2,464 #2,707
2012 modern 2,419 #2,691
2013 modern 2,474 #2,692
2014 modern 2,487 #2,696
2015 modern 2,474 #2,679
2016 modern 2,414 #2,729

Geography

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Where Wheeldons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Alkmund, Stockport, Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Leek. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales and East Staffordshire. 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 St Alkmund Derbyshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Leek Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 008 Derbyshire Dales
2 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
3 Derbyshire Dales 003 Derbyshire Dales
4 Derbyshire Dales 007 Derbyshire Dales
5 East Staffordshire 001 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wheeldon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wheeldon

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Wheeldon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wheeldon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wheeldon 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

Wheeldon is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Wheeldon

The surname Wheeldon originates from England, specifically from the medieval period. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English words hwēol, meaning wheel, and dūn, meaning hill. Hence, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a hill with a wheel or a mill, common features in medieval village landscapes.

This surname primarily emerged in the counties of Derbyshire and Yorkshire, regions noted for their hilly terrains. An early reference to a similar surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a place named Wheldale was recorded in Yorkshire. Although not the exact name, it reflects the similar sound and etymological components.

The earliest recorded spelling of the surname dates back to the late 13th century with the individual John Wheldon, who appeared in Yorkshire tax records from 1297. Another historical appearance includes a Richard de Wheldon, recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Derbyshire in 1273. These references highlight the geographical concentration of the surname in Northern England.

One notable personality bearing the surname was Robert Wheildon, a prominent figure in the 16th century, famously known for his contributions to woolen manufacturing in Derbyshire around 1552. His work was crucial to the regional economy, as wool was a significant commodity during that period.

During the English Civil War, Captain Thomas Wheeldon (born circa 1612 - died circa 1650) served with distinction, illustrating the family's continued prominence in regional affairs. Another significant individual was Sarah Wheeldon (born 1792 - died 1867), a noted social reformer in Northern England whose advocacy for workers' rights left a lasting impact on labor laws.

In the arts, William Wheeldon (born 1840 - died 1910) gained recognition as an influential Victorian painter, contributing to the landscape genre that was highly popular during that era. His works often depicted the picturesque hills and mills reminiscent of the early origins of his surname.

Finally, George Wheeldon (born 1850 - died 1928) left his mark as an industrialist during the height of the Industrial Revolution. He significantly advanced mechanized manufacturing processes, underlining the seemingly intrinsic connection of the Wheeldon surname to industrial and mechanical innovations throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wheeldon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wheeldon 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 475 Wheeldons recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.06x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 475 21.06x
Staffordshire 286 5.88x
Lancashire 194 1.13x
Cheshire 153 4.81x
Yorkshire 93 0.65x
Nottinghamshire 65 3.35x
Warwickshire 57 1.57x
Middlesex 26 0.18x
Lincolnshire 20 0.87x
Leicestershire 19 1.19x
Worcestershire 14 0.74x
Essex 9 0.32x
Northamptonshire 7 0.52x
Surrey 7 0.10x
Gloucestershire 6 0.21x
Monmouthshire 6 0.58x
Sussex 6 0.25x
Bedfordshire 5 0.67x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.86x
Kent 5 0.10x
Durham 4 0.09x
Devon 3 0.10x
Denbighshire 2 0.37x
Hampshire 2 0.07x
Herefordshire 2 0.34x
Somerset 2 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Roxburghshire 1 0.38x
Royal Navy 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 36 Wheeldons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.60x.

Place Total Index
Aston 36 3.60x
Chorlton On Medlock 29 10.68x
Salford 28 5.57x
Leek Lowe 27 41.72x
Matlock 27 89.14x
Derby St Werburgh 25 19.19x
Hartington Upper 25 232.34x
Brinnington 23 77.42x
Dukinfield 23 15.65x
Burton Upon Trent 22 19.34x
Buxton 22 115.24x
Derby St Alkmund 22 32.54x
Hulme 21 5.88x
Brightside Bierlow 20 7.14x
Litchurch 20 22.03x
Duffield 19 106.86x
Stockport 18 11.00x
Bradford 17 21.24x
Newbold Dunston 17 79.29x
Eckington 16 29.20x
Longnor 16 606.06x
Ardwick 15 9.73x
Macclesfield 15 10.61x
Butterton 14 1228.07x
Gainsborough 14 25.78x
St Mary 14 146.75x
Stapleford 14 88.78x
Wirksworth 14 68.26x
Ecclesall Bierlow 13 4.48x
Fawfieldhead 13 416.67x
Ilkeston 13 20.56x
Broughton In Salford 12 7.68x
Shirley 12 1000.00x
Wootton 12 1333.33x
Bakewell 11 89.14x
Derby All Sts 11 58.39x
Hasland 11 47.91x
Long Eaton 11 36.95x
Rocester 11 182.42x
Ashover 10 89.05x
Horninglow 10 43.65x
Manchester 10 1.30x
Marple 10 45.81x
Newton In Ashton Under 10 31.87x
Snenton 10 13.11x
Tutbury 10 84.32x
Wildboarclough 10 884.96x
Birmingham 9 0.74x
Holloway 9 323.74x
North Muskham 9 337.08x
Walsall Foreign 9 3.58x
West Ham 9 1.43x
Burslem 8 5.74x
Burton Extra 8 28.69x
Heaton Norris 8 8.22x
Hognaston 8 579.71x
Hollingworth 8 61.02x
Hunslet 8 3.59x
Idridgehay Alton 8 666.67x
Leamington Priors 8 8.95x
Rotherham 8 9.94x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 8 12.06x
Tottenham 8 3.49x
Walsall Borough 8 21.19x
Alfreton 7 10.21x
Bonsall 7 104.79x
Checkley 7 55.42x
Chester St Mary On Hill 7 25.66x
Edlaston 7 679.61x
Gorton 7 4.36x
Kimberworth 7 8.83x
Kings Norton 7 4.15x
Newton 7 5.31x
Northampton Priory St 7 8.61x
Onecote 7 380.43x
Sheen 7 339.81x
Wolstanton Chatterly 7 140.00x
Wolverhampton 7 1.87x
Biddulph 6 21.87x
Uttoxeter 6 24.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 120
Sarah 81
Elizabeth 55
Hannah 35
Ann 29
Jane 25
Eliza 23
Emma 22
Annie 21
Martha 21
Alice 20
Ellen 14
Harriet 14
Catherine 12
Fanny 12
Emily 10
Lucy 9
Clara 8
Louisa 8
Margaret 8
Harriett 7
Agnes 6
Anne 6
Elizth. 6
Florence 6
Helen 6
Ruth 6
Ada 5
Bertha 5
Edith 5
Frances 5
Kate 5
Maria 5
Matilda 5
Rose 5
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Lydia 4
Susan 4
Eleanor 3
Lily 3
Margret 3
Rachel 3
Selina 3
Gertrude 2
Julia 2
Kezia 2
Lizzie 2
Nellie 2
Rebecca 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 118
William 98
George 57
Thomas 54
Joseph 44
James 41
Samuel 31
Charles 26
Henry 18
Alfred 14
Frederick 11
Herbert 11
Richard 11
Robert 11
Isaac 10
Walter 10
Arthur 9
Harry 9
Ernest 8
Frank 8
Edward 7
Benjamin 6
Edwin 5
Fred 5
Albert 4
Moses 4
Reuben 4
Thos. 4
Aaron 3
Amos 3
David 3
Geo. 3
Saml. 3
Wm. 3
Edgar 2
Enoch 2
Horatio 2
Job 2
Joel 2
Joshua 2
Luke 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Ralph 2
Vernon 2
Daniel 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Joe 1

FAQ

Wheeldon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wheeldon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,476 people were recorded with the Wheeldon surname. That placed it at #2,829 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wheeldon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,414 in 2016. That gives Wheeldon a modern rank of #2,729.

What does the Wheeldon surname mean?

A locational surname derived from an English place name referring to someone from Wheeldon Farm.

What does the Wheeldon map show?

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