NameCensus.

UK surname

Whyman

An English surname probably derived from locational names referring to the "wye" or intersection of two rivers.

In the 1881 census there were 800 people recorded with the Whyman surname, ranking it #4,654 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,241, ranked #4,808, down from #4,654 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hunton, London parishes and Barkway. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, The Vale of Glamorgan and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whyman is 1,343 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.1%.

1881 census count

800

Ranked #4,654

Modern count

1,241

2016, ranked #4,808

Peak year

1999

1,343 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whyman had 800 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,654 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,241 in 2016, ranked #4,808.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,276 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whyman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whyman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whyman 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 499 #5,010
1861 historical 481 #5,426
1881 historical 800 #4,654
1891 historical 842 #4,845
1901 historical 1,088 #4,439
1911 historical 1,276 #3,721
1997 modern 1,299 #4,400
1998 modern 1,330 #4,457
1999 modern 1,343 #4,462
2000 modern 1,312 #4,534
2001 modern 1,298 #4,487
2002 modern 1,331 #4,483
2003 modern 1,300 #4,484
2004 modern 1,282 #4,543
2005 modern 1,259 #4,568
2006 modern 1,251 #4,604
2007 modern 1,261 #4,609
2008 modern 1,277 #4,581
2009 modern 1,319 #4,551
2010 modern 1,342 #4,566
2011 modern 1,324 #4,564
2012 modern 1,258 #4,705
2013 modern 1,259 #4,794
2014 modern 1,269 #4,788
2015 modern 1,248 #4,813
2016 modern 1,241 #4,808

Geography

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Where Whymans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hunton, London parishes, Barkway, St Werburgh and Peterborough St John the Baptist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, The Vale of Glamorgan, Redcar and Cleveland 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 Hunton Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 Barkway Hertfordshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 011 North West Leicestershire
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 012 Vale of Glamorgan
3 Redcar and Cleveland 003 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
5 East Staffordshire 004 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whyman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whyman

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

Whyman is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Whyman falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Whyman

The surname Whyman is believed to have its origins in England, with historical references dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "hwi" (meaning "white" or "holy") and "mann" (meaning "man"). This combination suggests that the name originally described a person with a notable characteristic, possibly fairness or a religious disposition.

Early records of the Whyman surname can be found in regions such as Norfolk and Suffolk. One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in a 14th-century tax record, where a Richard Whyman was listed as a landowner in Norfolk around 1375. Variations in the spelling of the surname, such as Wyman and Wymon, were common in historical documents due to the inconsistent nature of spelling in early records.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Whyman, who was born in 1512 and served as a local official in Suffolk. His contributions to the community were recorded in parish records and tax documents, highlighting his role in local governance and agriculture.

During the 17th century, the name continued to appear in various documents, including the marriage records of Thomas Whyman, born in 1620 in Essex. Thomas later emigrated to the American colonies, where he became an early settler in Massachusetts, contributing to the establishment of new communities in the New World.

By the 18th century, the surname Whyman was also recorded in wills and legal documents. One significant record is the will of Mary Whyman, born in 1694, who left a detailed account of her possessions and family relations upon her death in 1760. This document provides valuable insights into the social and economic status of the Whyman family during that period.

In the 19th century, several individuals bearing the Whyman surname gained prominence. One such individual was Edward Whyman, born in 1825. He was an influential figure in the industrial development in Birmingham, England, and his work in the manufacturing industry earned him recognition and respect.

Overall, the history of the Whyman surname is rich with references in historical records and documents, illustrating the enduring legacy of families who carried this name across centuries and continents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whyman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whyman 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. Kent leads with 120 Whymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.51x.

County Total Index
Kent 120 4.51x
Leicestershire 101 11.67x
Yorkshire 73 0.94x
Middlesex 71 0.91x
Derbyshire 62 5.07x
Hertfordshire 60 11.15x
Northamptonshire 55 7.49x
Essex 33 2.14x
Cambridgeshire 31 6.27x
Staffordshire 29 1.10x
Lincolnshire 23 1.84x
Gloucestershire 17 1.11x
Hampshire 16 1.00x
Huntingdonshire 14 9.04x
Rutland 14 24.43x
Durham 13 0.56x
Lancashire 13 0.14x
Surrey 13 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.14x
Warwickshire 9 0.46x
Cheshire 5 0.29x
Wiltshire 5 0.72x
Worcestershire 4 0.39x
Monmouthshire 3 0.53x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.21x
Suffolk 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hunton in Kent leads with 30 Whymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1287.55x.

Place Total Index
Hunton 30 1287.55x
Yalding 27 401.79x
Clavering 26 931.90x
Barkway 22 1037.74x
Leicester St Margaret 22 10.43x
Nuthampstead 21 3620.69x
Peterborough 19 35.75x
St Pancras London 17 2.71x
Leeds 16 3.66x
Breedon On The Hill 14 536.40x
Claylane 12 70.67x
Gamlingay 12 233.01x
Middlesbrough 11 10.92x
Charing 10 277.78x
Eston 10 59.38x
Islington London 10 1.32x
Leicester Black Friars 10 177.62x
Ockbrook 10 192.68x
Tinsley 10 369.00x
Westbury On Severn East 10 28.90x
Litchurch 9 18.30x
Ospringe 9 274.39x
Thringstone 9 271.90x
Chesterfield 8 17.47x
Denton 8 547.95x
Hammersmith London 8 4.16x
Hart 8 141.34x
Mile End New Town 8 75.05x
Skelton In Guisbrough 8 38.24x
St Neots 8 95.01x
Wisbech St Peter 8 32.27x
Ashby De La Zouch 7 34.90x
Castle Ashby 7 1228.07x
Hertingfordbury 7 318.18x
Layston 7 244.76x
Loughborough 7 17.83x
Oundle 7 85.26x
St Swithin Lincoln 7 35.68x
Upham 7 400.00x
West Farleigh 7 679.61x
Wymeswold 7 280.00x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.77x
Hadlow 6 90.91x
Manchester 6 1.44x
Northfleet 6 25.58x
Paddington London 6 2.09x
Pickworth 6 1333.33x
Southampton St Mary 6 5.96x
Spondon 6 127.66x
Swannington 6 188.09x
Wednesfield 6 15.48x
Wilton In Guisbrough 6 173.41x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 6.94x
Carlton 5 41.67x
Clerkenwell London 5 2.71x
Cole Orton 5 312.50x
Deal 5 22.02x
Durnford 5 416.67x
Eastling 5 390.63x
Hillmorton 5 142.45x
Horsley 5 68.03x
Maidstone 5 6.30x
Whitwick 5 45.45x
Wingate 5 31.41x
Alfreton 4 10.78x
Burton Upon Trent 4 6.49x
Chester St Oswald 4 12.82x
Coventry St Michael 4 6.33x
Harborne 4 4.74x
Ibstock 4 63.59x
Newborough 4 229.89x
Oldbury 4 7.98x
Penge 4 8.02x
Radford 4 7.49x
Rotherham 4 9.17x
Spittlegate 4 23.18x
Whittlesey St Mary St 4 23.18x
Woodstone 4 163.27x
Aldershot 3 5.60x
Belton 3 297.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 56
George 45
William 45
Thomas 31
Charles 18
James 18
Henry 13
Arthur 11
Joseph 11
Frederick 10
Alfred 9
Edward 8
Richard 8
David 7
Frank 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Michael 5
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Philip 4
Albert 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Aaron 2
Abraham 2
Ambrose 2
Amos 2
Edgar 2
Isaac 2
Needham 2
Phillip 2
Cecil 1
Daniel 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Geo. 1
Geo.W. 1
Jacob 1
Joe 1
Jonathon 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Montey 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Whyman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whyman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 800 people were recorded with the Whyman surname. That placed it at #4,654 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whyman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,241 in 2016. That gives Whyman a modern rank of #4,808.

What does the Whyman surname mean?

An English surname probably derived from locational names referring to the "wye" or intersection of two rivers.

What does the Whyman map show?

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