Top Locations

See the bottom of the page for an explanation of the numeric columns.

Counties

Census Districts

Demographics

Numbers in brackets are the total recorded in the census. Note that for less common surnames, some of these may well be typos or transcription errors. See below for some more information on occupational titles.

Top male names

  1. James (8)
  2. Charles (6)
  3. Robert (5)
  4. John (4)
  5. George (4)
  6. Walter (4)
  7. Thomas (3)
  8. Frederick (3)
  9. Arthur (2)
  10. Herbert (2)
  11. Henry (2)
  12. Victor (2)
  13. Ernest (2)
  14. Salmon (1)
  15. Samuel (1)
  16. Randal (1)
  17. Percy (1)
  18. Patrick (1)
  19. Oscar (1)
  20. Oliver (1)
  21. Alfred (1)
  22. Authur (1)
  23. Benjamin (1)
  24. Frank (1)
  25. Harry (1)
  26. Horace (1)
  27. Isaac (1)
  28. Alexander (1)
  29. Morley (1)
  30. William (1)

Top female names

  1. Elizabeth (4)
  2. Alice (4)
  3. Emma (4)
  4. Mary (4)
  5. Jane (3)
  6. Kathleen (2)
  7. Louisa (2)
  8. Ada (2)
  9. Phoeba (2)
  10. Sophia (2)
  11. Isabella (2)
  12. Ann (2)
  13. Sarah (2)
  14. Annie (2)
  15. Martha (1)
  16. Winifred (1)
  17. Kate (1)
  18. Violet (1)
  19. Kezia (1)
  20. Laura (1)
  21. Lily (1)
  22. Susan (1)
  23. Lucy (1)
  24. Susanah (1)
  25. Anne (1)
  26. I. (1)
  27. Amelia (1)
  28. Beatrice (1)
  29. Camilla (1)
  30. Caroline (1)
  31. Daisy (1)
  32. Eleanor (1)
  33. Ellen (1)
  34. Emily (1)
  35. Esther (1)
  36. Eva (1)
  37. Florence (1)
  38. Gertrude (1)
  39. Hannah (1)
  40. Harriett (1)
  41. Helen (1)
  42. Adelaide (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (30)
  2. Farmers Son (3)
  3. Draper (3)
  4. Farmers Daur (2)
  5. General Lab (2)
  6. Housekeeper (2)
  7. Weaver (2)
  8. Commercial Traveller (2)
  9. Carpenter (2)
  10. Merchant (Corn) (1)
  11. Gen Lab (1)
  12. Gas Fitter (1)
  13. Gardener (N D) (1)
  14. Gardener (1)
  15. Formally Farmer (1)
  16. Foreman (Stable Yard)(Groom) (1)
  17. Grocer & Wine Mecht Mast 1 Man 2 Boys (1)
  18. Retired Governess (1)
  19. Governess (Pr) (1)
  20. Grocer & Draper (1)
  21. Retired Farmers Wife (1)
  22. News Agent (1)
  23. Musician (1)
  24. Housemaid (Domestic) (1)
  25. Lodging House Keeper (1)
  26. Merchant Daur (1)
  27. Master Marriner (1)
  28. Housemaid (1)
  29. Farmers Wife (1)
  30. Farmer Wife (1)
  31. Drapers Apprentice (1)
  32. Draper (Unemployed) (1)
  33. Dom Serv (1)
  34. Carpenters Wife (1)
  35. Builders Apprentice (1)
  36. Brewers Drayman (1)
  37. Book Folder (Binder) (1)
  38. Blacksmith (1)
  39. Bankers Clerk (1)
  40. Drapers Assistant (1)
  41. Drapers Manager (1)
  42. Farmer Son (1)
  43. Farmer of 244 Acres Employing 11 Laborers & 3 Boys (1)
  44. Farmer About 510 Acres (1)
  45. Farmer 44 Acres Employ 1 Man (1)
  46. Farm Steward (Baliff) No Employment (1)
  47. Farm 2 1/2 Acres Land (1)
  48. Engine Turner & Fitter (1)
  49. Dress Maker (1)
  50. Drayman (1)

Explanation of numeric columns in the county and district tables

The Total column shows the total number of people in that county or town with this surname. For example, there were 48 people with the surname Beart in the county of Norfolk in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.01% of the people in Norfolk were called Beart.

The Index column shows how more or less common a surname is in a particular location compared to the population as a whole. If the index is higher than 1, then you more likely to find a person with this name here than you would in the country as a whole. And if it's less than 1, you are less likely to find someone with this surname here. For example, the Beart surname has an index of 24.62 in Norfolk, meaning that you are 24.62 times as likely to find a Beart here than you would in the population as a whole.

The Total value is an absolute figure which takes no account of the size of the county or town, so it tends to be biased towards larger towns and counties. The Frequency and Index values are relative to the local population, so they give a better idea of where a surname is most concentrated.

A note on occupational titles

Occupational titles are presented exactly as recorded on the census and later transcribed, with no attempt made to unify names that are the same. So, for example, 'Ag Lab' and 'Agricultural Labourer' will apear as separate entries, and so will any misspellings of them.

'Scholar' was the census term for any child in education. Given that families tended to be large, this means that school children, or scholars, are almost always the largest recorded occupational group for any surname. A better idea of what the family breadwinners did for a living will be found in the other job titles.

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