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. William (18)
  2. Alfred (8)
  3. Henry (8)
  4. Edward (7)
  5. Arthur (6)
  6. James (6)
  7. Thomas (4)
  8. Frank (4)
  9. John (4)
  10. Joseph (3)
  11. Daniel (3)
  12. Charles (3)
  13. Samuel (3)
  14. Frederick (3)
  15. Leonard (2)
  16. Herbert (2)
  17. Saml. (2)
  18. Harry (2)
  19. Jesse (2)
  20. Aaron (2)
  21. Ezekiel (2)
  22. Archer (2)
  23. Ernest (2)
  24. Geo. (1)
  25. Reginald (1)
  26. Richard (1)
  27. Robt. (1)
  28. Anthony (1)
  29. Sydny (1)
  30. Alphonsia (1)
  31. Thos. (1)
  32. Walter (1)
  33. Albert (1)
  34. Wm.Arthur (1)
  35. Peter (1)
  36. Pendrill (1)
  37. Maurice (1)
  38. George (1)
  39. Hamilton (1)
  40. Fred (1)
  41. Francis (1)
  42. Horace (1)
  43. Hugh (1)
  44. Jabez (1)
  45. Jay (1)
  46. Fredk. (1)
  47. Edmond (1)
  48. David (1)
  49. Yelyen (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (21)
  2. Sarah (7)
  3. Alice (6)
  4. Ann (6)
  5. Emily (5)
  6. Susannah (4)
  7. Eliza (4)
  8. Emma (3)
  9. Edith (3)
  10. Hannah (3)
  11. Ethel (3)
  12. Lucy (3)
  13. Harriet (3)
  14. Esther (3)
  15. Elizabeth (2)
  16. Louisa (2)
  17. Jane (2)
  18. Harriett (2)
  19. Lottie (2)
  20. Fanny (2)
  21. Margaret (2)
  22. Martha (2)
  23. Eleanor (2)
  24. Dora (2)
  25. Elizh. (1)
  26. Caroline (1)
  27. Jessie (1)
  28. Laura (1)
  29. Lila (1)
  30. Lilla (1)
  31. Lily (1)
  32. Annie (1)
  33. Anne (1)
  34. Amy (1)
  35. Mabel (1)
  36. Madage (1)
  37. Isabella (1)
  38. Ida (1)
  39. Ellen (1)
  40. Elizath. (1)
  41. Clementine (1)
  42. Ethelwyn (1)
  43. Eva (1)
  44. Clarisson (1)
  45. Gertrude (1)
  46. Clara (1)
  47. Celia (1)
  48. Catherine (1)
  49. Zillah (1)
  50. Hephzibah (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (39)
  2. Draper (5)
  3. Farm Labourer (4)
  4. Drapers Assistant (2)
  5. Seamstress (2)
  6. Retired Farmer (2)
  7. Farmers Son (Looker) (2)
  8. Auctioneer (2)
  9. Retired Draper (2)
  10. Joiners Carter (2)
  11. No Occupation (2)
  12. Farm Labr (2)
  13. Interest Of Money (2)
  14. Employed In Shop (1)
  15. General Labourer (1)
  16. Wife Of Millers Assistant (1)
  17. Farmer 230 Acres Employs 6 Men & 2 Boys (1)
  18. Farmer 350 Acres Emp 8 Men 3 Boys (1)
  19. Farmer 362 Ac Employ 12 Men 2 Boys (1)
  20. Farmer 50 Acres Employs 2 Labr (1)
  21. Genl Servt Domestic (1)
  22. Farmer Of 1090 Acres Emp 31 Men & 3 Boys (1)
  23. Farmer Of 260 Acres Employs 7 Men 2 Boys (1)
  24. Gas Fitters Lab (1)
  25. Farmer Of 271 Acres Employing 8 Laborers And 1 Boy (1)
  26. Farmer Of 50 Acres Employing 3 Laborers And 1 Boy (1)
  27. Genl Draper (1)
  28. General Serv (1)
  29. Gardener (1)
  30. Farmers Wife (1)
  31. Frame Work Knitter (1)
  32. Farm Bailiff (1)
  33. Bootmaker (1)
  34. Boot Maker Employing 2 Men & 2 Boys (1)
  35. Barge Builder (1)
  36. Bankers Clerk (1)
  37. Bank Clerk (1)
  38. Auctioneers Wife (1)
  39. Agricultural Implement Maker Employing 287 Men & 52 Boys (1)
  40. Ag Serv (1)
  41. Dividend Owner (1)
  42. Drainer (1)
  43. Factory Hand (1)
  44. Engineers Draughtsman (1)
  45. Employed In Shop (Hatr) (1)
  46. Agricultural Labourer (1)
  47. Drapers Wife (1)
  48. Drapers Son (1)
  49. Draper Wife (1)
  50. Draper (Master Employing 8 Assists) (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 139 people with the surname Bentall in the county of Essex in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.02% of the people in Essex were called Bentall.

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 Bentall surname has an index of 27.24 in Essex, meaning that you are 27.24 times as likely to find a Bentall 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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