Find out how popular the first name Welton has been for the last 42 years (from 1974 to 2015) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Welton by gender

Based on the last 42 years of data, Welton is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2015, there were 8 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Welton.

The history of the first name Welton

The name Welton is an English given name derived from a surname that originated as a toponymic name, referring to someone from a place called Welton. The name Welton is believed to have originated from the Old English words "well" meaning a spring or stream, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, collectively referring to a settlement near a spring or stream.

Welton was initially used as a locational surname, identifying people by the place they were from. The earliest recorded use of Welton as a surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Welletone" and "Welletune" in various counties across England.

As a given name, Welton first appeared in the late 16th century, likely as a result of the practice of using surnames as first names. One of the earliest recorded instances of Welton as a first name was in 1597, when a Welton Marshe was mentioned in parish records from Gloucestershire, England.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Welton as their first name. One of the earliest was Welton Simons (c. 1620-1677), an English Puritan minister who served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Reading, Berkshire.

Another notable bearer of the name was Welton Stanford (1785-1870), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent author and philosopher.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Welton was Welton Hoskins (1786-1864), a Baptist minister and educator from Virginia who founded the Meadville Theological School in Pennsylvania.

Welton Jude (1901-1975) was an American actor and playwright who appeared in several Broadway productions and Hollywood films in the mid-20th century.

More recently, Welton Gaddy (born 1942) is an American Baptist minister and activist who served as the president of the Interfaith Alliance from 1995 to 2014, advocating for the separation of church and state.

While not an exhaustive list, these examples showcase the use of the name Welton throughout history, with individuals from various backgrounds and professions bearing this distinctive English name.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Welton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Welton, please contact us.

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