BOLSHAW
In the 1881 Census
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
- John (15)
- George (6)
- Thomas (6)
- Joseph (6)
- James (4)
- William (3)
- Samuel (3)
- Edward (2)
- Walter (2)
- Arthur (2)
- Henry (2)
- Jas. (1)
- Jeffery (1)
- Johnathan (1)
- Tom (1)
- Joshua (1)
- Richard (1)
- Sam (1)
- Saml. (1)
- Percy (1)
- Jabez (1)
- Alexander (1)
- Alfred (1)
- Arron (1)
- Boyd (1)
- Elksnah (1)
- Enoch (1)
- Ernest (1)
- Frank (1)
- Fred (1)
- Frederick (1)
- Herbert (1)
- Hugh (1)
- Infant (1)
- Alberto (1)
Top female names
- Elizabeth (15)
- Mary (14)
- Sarah (7)
- Alice (4)
- Ann (4)
- Annie (4)
- Emma (4)
- Lucy (4)
- Martha (3)
- Julia (2)
- Jane (2)
- Lois (2)
- Maria (2)
- Kate (2)
- Ellen (2)
- Edith (2)
- Rachel (2)
- Lizzie (1)
- Phoebe (1)
- Louisa (1)
- Minnie (1)
- Maud (1)
- Margaret (1)
- Margt. (1)
- Bertha (1)
- Lydia (1)
- Florance (1)
- Joaquina (1)
- Adeline (1)
- Betty (1)
- Clara (1)
- Clarissia (1)
- Eliza (1)
- Elsie (1)
- Emely (1)
- Florence (1)
- Frances (1)
- Hannah (1)
- Harriet (1)
- Henrietta (1)
- Jessee (1)
- Jessie (1)
- Ada (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (37)
- Butcher (4)
- Farmers Daughter (4)
- Domestic Servant (3)
- Farmers Daur (3)
- Farmers Wife (2)
- Household Work (2)
- Silk Weaver (2)
- Gardener (N D) (2)
- Nurse (2)
- Railway Clerk (2)
- Housework (2)
- Farmer Of 43 Acres Of Land (1)
- Farmers Son (1)
- Farmers Dtr (1)
- Farmer Of 60 Acres Employing 2 Labourers (1)
- Farmer Of 82 Acres (1)
- Farmer Of 80 Acres (1)
- General Serv (1)
- Masons Laborer (1)
- Laundress (1)
- Housekeeper (1)
- Hooker In Warehouse (Cot Mf) (1)
- Hammer Driver Wife (1)
- Hammer Driver (Iron) (1)
- Grocer And Beer Retailer (1)
- General Servant Domestic (1)
- Farmer Of 360 Acres Employing 1 Lab (1)
- Farmer Of 24 Acres Employing One Boy (1)
- Farmer Of 135 Acres Employ 2 Boys (1)
- Dairymaid (Ag Lab) (1)
- Cook Dom (1)
- Clerk To Oil Merchant (1)
- Clerk County Court (Official) (1)
- Carter (Unemployed) (1)
- Carter (1)
- Butchers Shop (1)
- Brewers Clerk (1)
- Asst In Shop (Drapers) (1)
- Wife To Clicker (1)
- Dressmaker (1)
- Farmer Of 110 Acres (1)
- Farmer Of 100 Acres (1)
- Farmer 24 Acr 1 Lab (1)
- Farmer 21 Ac (1)
- Farmer 11 Acres (1)
- Farm Servant (Indoor) (1)
- Farm Servant (Indoor Ag Lab) (1)
- Farm 8 Acres (1)
- Employed At Home Farmers Son (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 112 people with the surname Bolshaw in the county of Cheshire 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 Cheshire were called Bolshaw.
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 Bolshaw surname has an index of 29.56 in Cheshire, meaning that you are 29.56 times as likely to find a Bolshaw 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.