NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitbourn

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Whitbourn surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, up from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newhaven, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Balmedie and Potterton and Worthing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitbourn is 203 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 145.2%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

1999

203 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitbourn had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 185 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whitbourn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitbourn surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Whitbourn 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 112 #19,279
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 150 #18,328
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 185 #15,686
1997 modern 197 #17,792
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 203 #18,081
2000 modern 193 #18,616
2001 modern 192 #18,388
2002 modern 187 #19,083
2003 modern 187 #18,856
2004 modern 183 #19,251
2005 modern 181 #19,334
2006 modern 189 #18,961
2007 modern 186 #19,337
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 187 #20,309
2011 modern 185 #20,288
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 180 #20,954
2014 modern 183 #20,880
2015 modern 180 #20,997
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

Back to top

Where Whitbourns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newhaven, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Balmedie and Potterton, Worthing, Tewkesbury and Mid Sussex. 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 Newhaven Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 005 Waverley
2 Balmedie and Potterton Aberdeenshire
3 Worthing 002 Worthing
4 Tewkesbury 008 Tewkesbury
5 Mid Sussex 013 Mid Sussex

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Whitbourn

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Whitbourn

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Whitbourn 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

Whitbourn is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whitbourn falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Whitbourn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitbourn 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. Surrey leads with 52 Whitbourns recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.99x.

County Total Index
Surrey 52 14.99x
Middlesex 14 1.97x
Essex 3 2.13x
Berkshire 2 3.74x
Sussex 2 1.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shalford in Surrey leads with 26 Whitbourns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6842.11x.

Place Total Index
Shalford 26 6842.11x
Mile End Old Town 6 53.38x
Sutton 6 239.04x
St Pancras London 5 8.72x
Stoke 5 304.88x
Croydon 4 20.77x
Epsom 4 236.69x
Barking 2 48.66x
Brighton 2 8.26x
Chiddingfold 2 625.00x
Cranleigh 2 392.16x
Wantage 2 235.29x
Westminster St John 2 23.07x
Capel 1 303.03x
Carshalton 1 75.19x
Hambledon 1 270.27x
Hendon 1 39.06x
Woodford 1 62.89x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 4
Albert 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Charles 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
John 2
William 2
Adolphus 1
Alfred 1
Archie 1
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Herbert 1
Norton 1
Robert 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Whitbourn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitbourn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Whitbourn surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitbourn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Whitbourn a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Whitbourn map show?

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