NameCensus.

UK surname

Womersley

From the woods where elm trees grow, referring to a place name.

In the 1881 census there were 930 people recorded with the Womersley surname, ranking it #4,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 967, ranked #5,950, down from #4,134 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Birstall and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Wakefield and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Womersley is 1,250 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.0%.

1881 census count

930

Ranked #4,134

Modern count

967

2016, ranked #5,950

Peak year

1911

1,250 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Womersley had 930 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,134 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 967 in 2016, ranked #5,950.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,250 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Womersley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Womersley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Womersley 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 557 #4,549
1861 historical 578 #4,564
1881 historical 930 #4,134
1891 historical 967 #4,274
1901 historical 1,157 #4,217
1911 historical 1,250 #3,798
1997 modern 995 #5,525
1998 modern 994 #5,703
1999 modern 987 #5,772
2000 modern 977 #5,803
2001 modern 957 #5,785
2002 modern 980 #5,794
2003 modern 960 #5,789
2004 modern 957 #5,813
2005 modern 937 #5,845
2006 modern 925 #5,909
2007 modern 945 #5,877
2008 modern 944 #5,912
2009 modern 971 #5,896
2010 modern 1,002 #5,876
2011 modern 995 #5,848
2012 modern 975 #5,858
2013 modern 991 #5,870
2014 modern 978 #5,963
2015 modern 968 #5,972
2016 modern 967 #5,950

Geography

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Where Womersleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Birstall, Bradford, Sheffield and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Wakefield, Leeds, Kirklees and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 059 Bradford
2 Wakefield 042 Wakefield
3 Leeds 062 Leeds
4 Kirklees 056 Kirklees
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 042 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Womersley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Womersley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Womersley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Womersley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Womersley is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Womersley is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Womersley falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Womersley

The surname Womersley is of English origin and dates back to medieval times. It is a locational surname derived from a place name. The name is believed to originate from the village of Womersley in West Yorkshire, England. The village's name itself is derived from the Old English elements "wulfhere," a personal name meaning "wolf army," and "leah," meaning a clearing or meadow. Therefore, Womersley originally referred to a meadow or clearing associated with a person named Wulfhere.

The earliest recorded mention of Womersley is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed under the name "Wilmerslei." Over time, the spelling evolved, with variations such as "Wollomersley" and "Womarsley" appearing in historical records. These variations in spelling were typical in medieval England, as the standardization of English spelling had not yet occurred.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the surname Womersley is from the 14th century. In 1379, John Womersley is mentioned in the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire. This indicates that the surname had already been established in the area by the late 14th century. Another early instance is William Womersley, who appears in the Yorkshire Subsidy Rolls of 1379.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, individuals bearing the Womersley surname continued to appear in various records. For example, Richard Womersley, born in 1588, is recorded as having lived in West Yorkshire. His descendant, also named Richard Womersley, born in 1620, served as a local official in the district.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, members of the Womersley family began to gain prominence in various professions. Samuel Womersley, born in 1764 and died in 1824, was a notable mill owner in West Yorkshire. His successful business contributed to the industrial growth of the region during the early Industrial Revolution.

Another prominent figure is John Womersley, born in 1896 and died in 1958, a distinguished British mathematician and computer scientist. He made significant contributions to the field of aerodynamics and worked for the National Physical Laboratory in the United Kingdom. His work had a lasting impact on the development of early computers.

The surname Womersley is therefore deeply rooted in the history and geography of West Yorkshire, England. Its origins in the medieval village of Womersley highlight the importance of place in the formation of English surnames. Historical records, including the Domesday Book and various tax rolls, provide valuable insights into the early use and evolution of the surname. Notable individuals bearing the name have made significant contributions to various fields, further cementing the legacy of the Womersley surname over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Womersley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Womersley 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. Yorkshire leads with 815 Womersleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.07x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 815 9.07x
Lancashire 55 0.51x
Middlesex 15 0.17x
Sussex 14 0.92x
Essex 9 0.50x
Norfolk 8 0.57x
Durham 3 0.11x
Kent 3 0.10x
Surrey 3 0.07x
Suffolk 2 0.18x
Berkshire 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.16x
Shropshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hipperholme Cum in Yorkshire leads with 74 Womersleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 187.34x.

Place Total Index
Hipperholme Cum 74 187.34x
Cleckheaton 43 129.83x
North Bierley 43 88.59x
Southowram 43 156.71x
Ecclesfield 36 54.61x
Pudsey 36 74.92x
Halifax 34 25.76x
Clifton In Halifax 28 521.42x
Calverley Cum Farsley 27 105.76x
Huddersfield 27 20.62x
Skircoat 27 76.16x
Bowling 24 26.95x
Bradford 22 10.11x
Yeadon 22 108.37x
Wombwell 20 76.31x
Eccleshill 18 82.27x
Elland Cum Greetland 18 44.44x
Fulstone 18 273.56x
Liversedge 15 37.48x
Batley 14 16.39x
Dewsbury 14 15.18x
Hastings St Mary In The 14 42.91x
Leeds 14 2.76x
Pendleton In Salford 14 10.92x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 13 40.49x
Horton In Bradford 12 8.55x
Northowram 12 19.04x
Dalton In Huddersfield 10 49.65x
Lockwood 10 30.92x
Rastrick 9 36.04x
West Ham 9 2.28x
Almondbury 8 18.40x
Chelsea London 8 2.93x
Oldham 8 2.30x
Ovenden 8 20.00x
Thorpe Next Norwich 8 54.13x
Hunslet 7 4.99x
Soothill 7 21.56x
Wyke In Bradford 7 43.53x
Clayton 6 27.27x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 3.28x
Linthwaite 6 31.76x
Rusholme 6 20.90x
Warmfield Cum Heath 6 197.37x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 2.92x
Lostock 5 205.76x
Mirfield 5 10.13x
Sheffield 5 1.75x
Shelley 5 95.06x
Bradford 4 7.94x
Brightside Bierlow 4 2.27x
Burley In Wharfdale 4 50.38x
Hartshead 4 99.26x
Kirkdale 4 2.21x
Manningham 4 3.61x
Nether Hallam 4 3.29x
Tong 4 23.03x
Warrington 4 3.13x
Bermondsey 3 1.11x
Dewsbury Ossett Cum 3 153.06x
Gateshead 3 1.48x
Longwood 3 20.70x
Wakefield 3 4.35x
Beckenham 2 4.94x
Bradford Girlington 2 49.75x
Bramley In Bramley 2 5.81x
Bromley London 2 1.00x
Doncaster 2 3.05x
Gorton 2 1.98x
Kirkley 2 21.65x
Morley 2 4.28x
Paddington London 2 0.60x
Sandal Magna 2 15.05x
Shepley 2 40.32x
Silkstone 2 44.94x
Bishop Stortford 1 4.79x
Condover 1 18.12x
Heckmondwike 1 3.46x
St Marylebone London 1 0.21x
St Pancras London 1 0.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 39
Joseph 29
George 28
James 18
Charles 17
Albert 14
Alfred 13
Arthur 13
Frank 11
Henry 11
Thomas 10
Fred 9
Walter 9
Robert 8
David 7
Herbert 7
Samuel 7
Ernest 6
Joe 6
Chas. 5
Harry 5
Richard 5
Edward 4
Joshua 4
Benjamin 3
Ellis 3
Mark 3
Saml. 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Benjn. 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Ephraim 2
Frederick 2
Gideon 2
Isaac 2
Jonas 2
Lewis 2
Nathan 2
Pelham 2
Peter 2
Simeon 2
Smith 2
Squire 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2

FAQ

Womersley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Womersley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 930 people were recorded with the Womersley surname. That placed it at #4,134 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Womersley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 967 in 2016. That gives Womersley a modern rank of #5,950.

What does the Womersley surname mean?

From the woods where elm trees grow, referring to a place name.

What does the Womersley map show?

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