NameCensus.

UK surname

Whetton

A surname derived from a place name meaning "wheat town" or "wheat farm".

In the 1881 census there were 493 people recorded with the Whetton surname, ranking it #6,848 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 946, ranked #6,062, up from #6,848 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Derbyshire and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whetton is 1,010 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.9%.

1881 census count

493

Ranked #6,848

Modern count

946

2016, ranked #6,062

Peak year

1999

1,010 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whetton had 493 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,848 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 946 in 2016, ranked #6,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 879 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whetton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whetton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whetton 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 333 #7,015
1861 historical 186 #12,751
1881 historical 493 #6,848
1891 historical 585 #6,531
1901 historical 718 #6,149
1911 historical 879 #5,063
1997 modern 984 #5,576
1998 modern 1,003 #5,663
1999 modern 1,010 #5,670
2000 modern 1,004 #5,671
2001 modern 986 #5,635
2002 modern 984 #5,775
2003 modern 962 #5,784
2004 modern 976 #5,707
2005 modern 949 #5,786
2006 modern 963 #5,727
2007 modern 961 #5,790
2008 modern 955 #5,855
2009 modern 966 #5,924
2010 modern 991 #5,914
2011 modern 1,007 #5,787
2012 modern 940 #6,038
2013 modern 959 #6,024
2014 modern 972 #6,006
2015 modern 955 #6,046
2016 modern 946 #6,062

Geography

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Where Whettons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Stapenhill and Church Gresley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Derbyshire 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
4 Stapenhill Staffordshire
5 Church Gresley Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Derbyshire 011 South Derbyshire
2 East Staffordshire 010 East Staffordshire
3 East Staffordshire 007 East Staffordshire
4 South Derbyshire 007 South Derbyshire
5 South Derbyshire 009 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whetton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whetton

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Whetton 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

Whetton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Whetton

The surname Whetton originates from England and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is predominantly found in the West Midlands and Staffordshire areas. The name is likely derived from the Old English words hwit, meaning "white," and tun, which translates to "settlement" or "enclosure." It referred to someone who lived in or near a "white farm" or a "white settlement."

Historical records suggest that the Whetton surname and its variants have been in use for many centuries. It appears in early medieval manuscripts and parish records, illuminating its longstanding presence in English history. The Domesday Book of 1086, though not mentioning Whetton specifically, provides a context to understand the common use of geographical and descriptive surnames during that period.

Among the earliest recorded examples is William de Whetton, who appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1297. Another notable mention is Richard Wheton, listed in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1279, indicating the name was widespread by the late 13th century. The Poll Tax records of Yorkshire in 1379 include Johannes Wheton, further illustrating the name's distribution across various counties.

The surname evolved into various spellings over the centuries, including Whetton, Wheton, and Whytton. Place names such as Whetstone in Leicestershire and Wheaton in Lancashire share etymological roots, though they are distinct from the personal surname.

Among the notable bearers of the surname is Thomas Whetton, an English clergyman born in 1610, who was known for his sermons and scholarly work. Another historical figure is Sir Richard Whetton, a 17th-century landowner in Staffordshire, who played a role in local politics and land management.

In the 18th century, John Whetton, born in 1750, became a significant figure in the Midlands' wool trade, contributing to the economic landscape of the region. Later, in the 19th century, Samuel Whetton, born in 1823, was a notable industrialist involved in the burgeoning railway industry, reflecting the shift from agrarian to industrial society.

The surname continued to be associated with various professions and achievements. For instance, George Whetton, born in 1845, was a prominent architect in London, contributing to several well-known public buildings of the Victorian era.

Throughout its history, the Whetton surname illustrates the common practice of deriving names to describe a person's residence or notable characteristics, reflecting the rich tapestry of England's social and linguistic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whetton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whetton 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 187 Whettons recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.64x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 187 24.64x
Staffordshire 72 4.40x
Leicestershire 63 11.72x
Nottinghamshire 57 8.72x
Yorkshire 24 0.50x
Warwickshire 23 1.88x
Oxfordshire 17 5.68x
Essex 6 0.63x
Kent 6 0.36x
Lancashire 6 0.10x
Middlesex 6 0.12x
Sussex 5 0.61x
Cheshire 4 0.37x
Monmouthshire 4 1.14x
Channel Islands 3 2.09x
Glamorgan 3 0.36x
Pembrokeshire 3 1.95x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.65x
Surrey 2 0.08x
Worcestershire 2 0.32x
Northamptonshire 1 0.22x
Shropshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Church Gresley in Derbyshire leads with 35 Whettons recorded in 1881 and an index of 289.74x.

Place Total Index
Church Gresley 35 289.74x
Burton Upon Trent 27 70.51x
Sutton In Ashfield 21 148.10x
Ashby De La Zouch 15 120.39x
Seals 15 793.65x
Linton 14 700.00x
Stapenhill 14 123.89x
Walton On Trent 14 1891.89x
Oakthorpe Donsthorpe 13 902.78x
Huddersfield 12 17.15x
Measham 11 394.27x
Castle Gresley 10 769.23x
Kingsbury 9 343.51x
Stretton En Le Field 9 1636.36x
Deddington 8 246.15x
Newbold Dunston 8 110.96x
Nottingham St Mary 8 4.73x
Prestwood 8 10000.00x
Stanton Newhall 8 329.22x
Appleby 7 555.56x
Burton Extra 7 74.63x
Hartshorn 7 243.90x
Kirkby In Ashfield 7 100.14x
Leicester St Mary 7 16.12x
Lower Heyford 7 804.60x
Rolleston 7 555.56x
Rugby 7 42.32x
Wales 7 184.21x
Branstone 6 365.85x
Lullington 6 483.87x
Snenton 6 23.37x
Brimington 5 86.81x
Chesterfield 5 17.57x
Claylane 5 47.39x
Heath 5 847.46x
Lichfield St Mary 5 105.93x
North Wingfield 5 147.49x
Plumstead 5 9.07x
Rosliston 5 657.89x
Teversall 5 724.64x
West Ham 5 2.37x
Worksop 5 25.80x
Birmingham 4 0.98x
Horninglow 4 51.88x
Newport 4 23.92x
Tranmere 4 10.17x
Willington 4 470.59x
Ardwick 3 5.78x
Chilvers Coton 3 59.64x
Hastings All Sts 3 38.96x
Llanstadwell 3 59.64x
Llantwit Lower 3 40.43x
Markfield 3 112.36x
St Helier 3 6.41x
Alfreton 2 8.67x
Allerton Bywater 2 76.92x
Brampton 2 18.85x
Chiswick 2 7.55x
Darlaston 2 8.84x
Derby St Peter 2 8.27x
Derby St Werburgh 2 4.56x
Hackney London 2 0.74x
Hasland 2 25.87x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 2 60.06x
Kensington London 2 0.74x
Neithrop 2 19.88x
Salford 2 1.18x
Singleton 2 217.39x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 1 5.73x
Blidworth Haywood 1 142.86x
Everton 1 0.55x
Kings Norton 1 1.76x
Leicester St Margaret 1 0.76x
Lower Mitton 1 17.92x
Radford 1 3.01x
Southwark Christchurch 1 4.40x
Stafford St Mary 1 4.32x
Swinfen Packington 1 149.25x
Tamworth 1 11.43x
Winshill 1 20.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 18
Ann 15
Emma 12
Eliza 11
Jane 9
Annie 8
Catherine 8
Hannah 7
Martha 7
Louisa 6
Ada 5
Agnes 5
Fanny 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Constance 3
Elizth. 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Lucy 3
Anne 2
Arabella 2
Charlotte 2
Dinah 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Anna 1
Betty 1
Carrie 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Julia 1
Letticia 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
M.E. 1
Margaret 1
Zilpah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 30
George 25
Thomas 21
Arthur 14
James 14
Henry 12
Charles 9
Joseph 8
Samuel 7
Herbert 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Mark 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Albt. 1
Alwyn 1
Arther 1
Barnet 1
Benjamin 1
Burton 1
Chas. 1
Chs. 1
David 1
Enage 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
H.J. 1
Heny.B. 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Radford 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Solomon 1
Thos. 1
Vincent 1

FAQ

Whetton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whetton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 493 people were recorded with the Whetton surname. That placed it at #6,848 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whetton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 946 in 2016. That gives Whetton a modern rank of #6,062.

What does the Whetton surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning "wheat town" or "wheat farm".

What does the Whetton map show?

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