NameCensus.

UK surname

Whitcombe

A locational surname derived from a place called Whitcombe in Dorset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 538 people recorded with the Whitcombe surname, ranking it #6,406 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,476, ranked #4,175, up from #6,406 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Sedgemoor and Torfaen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whitcombe is 1,579 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 174.3%.

1881 census count

538

Ranked #6,406

Modern count

1,476

2016, ranked #4,175

Peak year

1999

1,579 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whitcombe had 538 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,406 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,476 in 2016, ranked #4,175.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 945 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whitcombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whitcombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whitcombe 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 227 #9,448
1861 historical 352 #7,258
1881 historical 538 #6,406
1891 historical 767 #5,208
1901 historical 846 #5,379
1911 historical 945 #4,762
1997 modern 1,493 #3,920
1998 modern 1,542 #3,953
1999 modern 1,579 #3,912
2000 modern 1,565 #3,922
2001 modern 1,521 #3,939
2002 modern 1,552 #3,964
2003 modern 1,512 #3,974
2004 modern 1,497 #4,005
2005 modern 1,435 #4,112
2006 modern 1,444 #4,094
2007 modern 1,434 #4,154
2008 modern 1,458 #4,115
2009 modern 1,510 #4,093
2010 modern 1,560 #4,049
2011 modern 1,537 #4,064
2012 modern 1,493 #4,108
2013 modern 1,507 #4,139
2014 modern 1,505 #4,166
2015 modern 1,479 #4,190
2016 modern 1,476 #4,175

Geography

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Where Whitcombes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Meare and St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Sedgemoor, Torfaen and Bridgend. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Meare Somerset
5 St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 012 Mendip
2 Sedgemoor 012 Sedgemoor
3 Torfaen 004 Torfaen
4 Mendip 014 Mendip
5 Bridgend 003 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whitcombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whitcombe

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

Whitcombe is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whitcombe falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Whitcombe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Whitcombe

The surname Whitcombe originated in England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hwit" meaning white and "cumb" meaning a valley or hollow, likely referring to a person who lived in a white valley or a valley with white soil.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where it appears as "Whitecumbe." This variation in spelling was common in early times due to the lack of standardized orthography.

The Whitcombe name has strong connections to the county of Dorset, where several places bear variations of the name, such as Whitcombe and Whitcombe Mansion near Dorchester. These place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Whitcombe surname was Sir Benedict Whitcombe (c. 1529-1599), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Dorset. He was a prominent figure in the legal and political circles of his time.

Another noteworthy individual was John Whitcombe (1760-1831), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Rector of Berkhamstead in Hertfordshire. He was known for his scholarly works and contributions to religious literature.

Moving forward, we find Thomas Whitcombe (1772-1844), a British artist and engraver who specialized in landscape paintings and etchings. His works were highly regarded during the Romantic era and are still cherished by art enthusiasts today.

In the 19th century, Charles Edward Whitcombe (1836-1904) made a name for himself as a prominent Australian politician and businessman. He served as a member of the Legislative Council of Victoria and played a significant role in the development of the state's mining industry.

Another notable figure was John Whitcombe (1808-1888), a British horticulturist and botanist who made significant contributions to the field of plant cultivation. He was particularly renowned for his work on orchids and was responsible for introducing several new species to Britain.

These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals bearing the Whitcombe surname throughout history, spanning various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whitcombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whitcombe 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 70 Whitcombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.33x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 70 1.33x
Somerset 66 7.78x
Monmouthshire 55 14.44x
Gloucestershire 47 4.55x
Surrey 36 1.40x
Hampshire 32 2.96x
Herefordshire 27 12.50x
Kent 24 1.34x
Worcestershire 21 3.05x
Devon 20 1.82x
Glamorgan 20 2.18x
Warwickshire 20 1.51x
Brecknockshire 14 13.29x
Yorkshire 14 0.27x
Sussex 13 1.46x
Derbyshire 9 1.09x
Lancashire 9 0.14x
Northumberland 6 0.77x
Carmarthenshire 4 1.80x
Cornwall 4 0.67x
Wiltshire 4 0.86x
Northamptonshire 3 0.61x
Shropshire 3 0.66x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.41x
Dorset 2 0.58x
Leicestershire 2 0.34x
Oxfordshire 2 0.61x
Radnorshire 2 4.71x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.30x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Essex 1 0.10x
Isle of Man 1 1.02x
Midlothian 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 1.59x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Meare in Somerset leads with 20 Whitcombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 787.40x.

Place Total Index
Meare 20 787.40x
Clerkenwell London 17 13.67x
Panteg 16 266.67x
Trevethin 14 38.93x
Cheltenham 13 16.31x
Llanwonno 13 39.44x
Aston 12 3.28x
Ottery St Mary 12 166.90x
Bermondsey 11 7.01x
Bristol St George 11 23.02x
Portsea 11 5.20x
Bitton Oldland 9 85.23x
Castle Cary 9 243.90x
Dewsbury 9 16.81x
Keinton Mandeville 9 927.84x
Newport 9 49.53x
Paddington London 9 4.65x
Stretton Sugwas 9 1636.36x
Birmingham 8 1.81x
Brading 8 55.75x
Canterbury St Mary 8 66.34x
Little Birch 8 1568.63x
Llanelly 8 63.49x
Yardley 8 45.45x
Bedwellty 7 10.41x
Cliffe 7 233.33x
Lambeth 7 1.52x
Aberdare 6 9.53x
Deptford St Paul 6 4.33x
Elswick 6 9.59x
Ribbesford 6 104.90x
Ripley 6 58.88x
Brecknock St David 5 176.68x
Newington 5 2.57x
Shepton Mallet 5 52.58x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 4.72x
St Pancras London 5 1.18x
St Woollos 5 11.76x
Bristol St Augustine 4 24.00x
East Pennard 4 363.64x
Hackney London 4 1.35x
Harpurhey 4 46.14x
Llandingat 4 79.21x
Poplar London 4 4.02x
Pulborough 4 122.70x
Westminster St James 4 7.39x
Whitchurch 4 303.03x
Willesden 4 8.06x
Binsted 3 72.82x
Chelsea London 3 1.89x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 21.04x
Frome 3 14.79x
Hardingstone 3 63.42x
Islington London 3 0.59x
Kensington London 3 1.02x
Moss Side 3 9.12x
Newton Ferrers 3 236.22x
Portishead 3 47.62x
Portsmouth 3 12.07x
Salisbury St Edmund 3 40.11x
Shoreditch London 3 1.31x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 3 59.64x
St Gluvias Penryn 3 62.76x
St Martin In Fields 3 9.51x
Stoke Damerel 3 3.91x
Walkington 3 169.49x
Chard 2 19.47x
Clyro 2 151.52x
Feckenham 2 25.41x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 2 51.95x
Harrow On The Hill 2 19.01x
Hennock 2 143.88x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.40x
Llanellen 2 303.03x
Lower Mitton 2 33.00x
Newport 2 34.13x
Oxford St Giles 2 12.89x
Putney 2 8.33x
Sellack 2 322.58x
Stonehouse 2 34.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 18
Eliza 15
Emily 13
Jane 12
Emma 8
Margaret 8
Annie 7
Caroline 7
Ann 6
Ellen 6
Ada 5
Alice 5
Edith 5
Maria 5
Agnes 4
Fanny 4
Charlotte 3
Esther 3
Frances 3
Francis 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Martha 3
Amy 2
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Clarissa 2
Florence 2
Julia 2
Louisa 2
Mabel 2
Marian 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Blanche 1
Carry 1
Cordelia 1
Diana 1
E. 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizh. 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
H. 1
Hariett 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
John 26
George 17
Charles 15
Henry 15
Thomas 14
James 12
Albert 10
Arthur 10
Alfred 9
Frederick 8
Samuel 7
Joseph 6
Philip 6
Robert 5
Walter 5
Edward 4
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Charley 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Leonard 2
B.G.E. 1
Chas.H. 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Ezekiel 1
Fredric 1
Geo. 1
Geo.J. 1
Gilbert 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Jabez 1
Levi 1
Mark 1
Matth. 1
Miltam 1
Nathan 1
Nathaniel 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Robt.H. 1
Rubin 1
Samual 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Whitcombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whitcombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 538 people were recorded with the Whitcombe surname. That placed it at #6,406 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whitcombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,476 in 2016. That gives Whitcombe a modern rank of #4,175.

What does the Whitcombe surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place called Whitcombe in Dorset, England.

What does the Whitcombe map show?

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