NameCensus.

UK surname

Whelton

A place name from Welton, Northamptonshire, England or other places of the same name.

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Whelton surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 213, ranked #18,785, up from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Thomas, St George in the East and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Camden and Bromsgrove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whelton is 235 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 222.7%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

213

2016, ranked #18,785

Peak year

2010

235 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whelton had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016, ranked #18,785.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 159 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Whelton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whelton surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whelton 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 83 #23,189
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 159 #17,636
1901 historical 159 #17,442
1911 historical 132 #19,313
1997 modern 214 #16,893
1998 modern 230 #16,607
1999 modern 218 #17,258
2000 modern 220 #17,138
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 216 #17,447
2003 modern 213 #17,395
2004 modern 214 #17,435
2005 modern 212 #17,473
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 220 #17,377
2008 modern 218 #17,638
2009 modern 230 #17,382
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 216 #18,251
2013 modern 218 #18,441
2014 modern 217 #18,645
2015 modern 215 #18,659
2016 modern 213 #18,785

Geography

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Where Wheltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Thomas, St George in the East, London parishes, Battersea and Cannock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Camden, Bromsgrove and Sutton. 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 Oxford City: St Thomas Oxfordshire
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Cannock Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 006 Pembrokeshire
2 Pembrokeshire 005 Pembrokeshire
3 Camden 003 Camden
4 Bromsgrove 002 Bromsgrove
5 Sutton 022 Sutton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whelton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whelton

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Whelton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Whelton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Whelton is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Whelton 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

Whelton falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Whelton 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Whelton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Whelton

The surname Whelton has its origins in England, likely dating back to the medieval period. This name is derived from places named Welton, which are common in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Northamptonshire. The Old English components "wela," meaning "well" or "spring," and "tun," meaning "enclosure" or "settlement," combine to suggest a locality associated with a spring or water source.

Historical references to the name appear in medieval manuscripts and land records. One notable instance is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where variations of the name Welton are recorded. These early records often show the name spelled in various forms, including Welton, Welten, and Whelton, reflecting the fluidity of medieval English spelling conventions.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Whelton appears in the 13th century, with one Richard de Welton listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax rolls of 1379. Place names like Welton in Northamptonshire and Welton in Lincolnshire suggest the geographical roots of the surname.

Several individuals bearing the surname Whelton have made their mark in history. Thomas Whelton, born around 1600, was a noted landowner in Devonshire, an area where the surname Welton was also prevalent. Another early figure is Robert Whelton, mentioned in legal documents from the early 15th century as a landholder in Oxfordshire.

By the 18th century, the name Whelton appears in records outside of England. John Whelton, who was born in 1730, is recorded as having emigrated to Ireland, where he became involved in local politics. This migration contributed to the spread of the surname beyond its English origins.

In the 19th century, the name appears in the United States with individuals like Patrick Whelton, born in 1820 in County Cork, Ireland, who immigrated to New York in 1845. Patrick became a well-known figure in his community, contributing to the development of early Irish-American society.

Another prominent figure is Sir Henry Whelton, born in 1857 in Liverpool, England. He rose to prominence as a judge and was known for his significant contributions to English law during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, illustrating the continued presence and influence of the Whelton name in modern history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whelton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whelton 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Wheltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.02x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 2.02x
Lincolnshire 11 10.69x
Derbyshire 10 9.92x
Yorkshire 7 1.10x
Oxfordshire 5 12.58x
Staffordshire 5 2.30x
Monmouthshire 4 8.60x
Nottinghamshire 4 4.61x
Leicestershire 2 2.80x
Pembrokeshire 2 9.78x
Hampshire 1 0.76x
Lancashire 1 0.13x
Surrey 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East in Middlesex leads with 13 Wheltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 296.80x.

Place Total Index
St George In East 13 296.80x
Melton Ross 6 15000.00x
Stapenhill 6 400.00x
Oxford St Thomas 5 270.27x
Belper 4 205.13x
Castle Church 4 305.34x
Newport 4 180.18x
Newholme Cum Dunsley 3 3333.33x
Barrow On Humber 2 333.33x
Blidworth Haywood 2 2222.22x
Brightside Bierlow 2 15.99x
Lound 2 2500.00x
Markfield 2 571.43x
Sheffield 2 9.85x
Barnetby Le Wold 1 526.32x
Handsworth 1 18.69x
Kingston On Thames 1 13.28x
Laughton In Gainsborough 1 1666.67x
Messingham 1 400.00x
Prendergast 1 322.58x
Rivington 1 1428.57x
Southampton All Sts 1 44.25x
St Davids 1 217.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Emma 3
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Fanny 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Betsey 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Cherry 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Johanah 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 5
John 5
William 5
Michael 3
Walter 3
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Abraham 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
J.H. 1
James 1
Samuel 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 Whelton households.

FAQ

Whelton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whelton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Whelton surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whelton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016. That gives Whelton a modern rank of #18,785.

What does the Whelton surname mean?

A place name from Welton, Northamptonshire, England or other places of the same name.

What does the Whelton map show?

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