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. John (12)
  2. James (11)
  3. George (9)
  4. Thomas (9)
  5. Henry (8)
  6. Joseph (8)
  7. William (6)
  8. Charles (6)
  9. Samuel (5)
  10. Walter (4)
  11. Arthur (3)
  12. Robert (3)
  13. Gilbert (3)
  14. Wm. (3)
  15. Stephen (2)
  16. Alfred (2)
  17. Andrew (2)
  18. Edward (2)
  19. Edwin (2)
  20. Alexdr. (2)
  21. Albert (2)
  22. Ernest (2)
  23. Archibald (1)
  24. Saml. (1)
  25. Seymour (1)
  26. Sidney (1)
  27. Anthony (1)
  28. Frances (1)
  29. Abraham (1)
  30. Richard (1)
  31. Lewes (1)
  32. Frederick (1)
  33. Fredrick (1)
  34. Geo. (1)
  35. Harry (1)
  36. Henrie (1)
  37. Douglas (1)
  38. Herbert (1)
  39. Francis (1)
  40. Charley (1)
  41. August (1)
  42. Wm.Thos. (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (26)
  2. Sarah (15)
  3. Jane (9)
  4. Emily (6)
  5. Ann (5)
  6. Emma (4)
  7. Annie (4)
  8. Eliza (4)
  9. Isabella (4)
  10. Agnes (3)
  11. Hannah (3)
  12. Elizabeth (3)
  13. Edith (3)
  14. Martha (3)
  15. Catherine (3)
  16. Alice (3)
  17. Margaret (3)
  18. Amelia (3)
  19. Jessie (2)
  20. Lizzie (2)
  21. Harriet (2)
  22. Frances (2)
  23. Fanny (2)
  24. Janet (2)
  25. Louisa (2)
  26. Esther (2)
  27. Susan (2)
  28. Caroline (2)
  29. Ada (2)
  30. Selina (2)
  31. Blanch (1)
  32. Betsy (1)
  33. Jessy (1)
  34. Josephine (1)
  35. Bessie (1)
  36. Mable (1)
  37. Marion (1)
  38. Catharine (1)
  39. Elys (1)
  40. Hortense (1)
  41. Felicite (1)
  42. Florence (1)
  43. Elsie (1)
  44. Francis (1)
  45. Zillah (1)
  46. Gertrude (1)
  47. Goa (1)
  48. Elizth. (1)
  49. Eleanor (1)
  50. Harrieta (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (50)
  2. Charwoman (5)
  3. Annuitant (4)
  4. Laundress (4)
  5. Fustian Cutter (4)
  6. Carman (3)
  7. Milliner (3)
  8. Domestic Servant (3)
  9. Cotton Weaver (3)
  10. Cutler (2)
  11. Nurse (2)
  12. Brickmaker (2)
  13. Cook Domestic Serv (2)
  14. Tailor (2)
  15. Brass Worker (2)
  16. General Servant (2)
  17. Boot Maker (2)
  18. No Occupation (2)
  19. Income From Cottage Property (2)
  20. Joiner (2)
  21. Gas Fitter (2)
  22. Gardener (2)
  23. Gen Serv Domestic (1)
  24. Wife Of Captn. 22nd Reg. (1)
  25. Dressmaker (1)
  26. Engine Cleaner (1)
  27. Errand Boy (1)
  28. Formerly A Milliner (1)
  29. Factory(Lab)Operative (1)
  30. Footman To The Queen (1)
  31. Florist (1)
  32. Farm Servant Indoor (1)
  33. Farm Servant (1)
  34. Bricklayers Labourer (1)
  35. Able Seaman (1)
  36. Accountant (1)
  37. Agricultal Labourer (1)
  38. Artificial Florist (1)
  39. Assistant Matron Prison Leeds (1)
  40. Asylum Attendant (Hospit Serv) (1)
  41. Basket Manufacturer (1)
  42. Blacksmith (1)
  43. Butler Domestic Serv (1)
  44. Carpenter (1)
  45. Cashier Unemployed (1)
  46. Cert School Mistress (1)
  47. Clerk (Out Of Employ) (1)
  48. Clerk H M Prison Superannuated (1)
  49. Coal Leader (1)
  50. Commercial Clerk Cotton Trade (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 166 people with the surname Blane in the county of Ayrshire in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.08% of the people in Ayrshire were called Blane.

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 Blane surname has an index of 39.34 in Ayrshire, meaning that you are 39.34 times as likely to find a Blane 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.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.