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 (59)
  2. John (51)
  3. Thomas (33)
  4. Robert (16)
  5. James (13)
  6. George (11)
  7. Edward (11)
  8. Henry (10)
  9. Wm. (10)
  10. Joseph (8)
  11. Charles (7)
  12. Daniel (6)
  13. Philip (6)
  14. Walter (5)
  15. Alfred (4)
  16. Thos. (4)
  17. Richard (4)
  18. Ceasor (3)
  19. Caesar (3)
  20. Arthur (3)
  21. Moses (2)
  22. Paul (2)
  23. Jos. (2)
  24. Albert (2)
  25. Jno. (2)
  26. Evan (2)
  27. Samuel (2)
  28. Frederick (2)
  29. Stanley (1)
  30. Wm.Thos. (1)
  31. Wilfred (1)
  32. Robet (1)
  33. Robt. (1)
  34. Matthew (1)
  35. Clarance (1)
  36. Dan. (1)
  37. A.M. (1)
  38. Frank (1)
  39. Fredrick (1)
  40. Gill (1)
  41. Henrey (1)
  42. Hugh (1)
  43. Humphrey (1)
  44. Harry (1)
  45. Margart (1)
  46. Ceasar (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (30)
  2. Elizabeth (24)
  3. Margaret (23)
  4. Ann (23)
  5. Catherine (16)
  6. Jane (14)
  7. Annie (10)
  8. Sarah (9)
  9. Esther (9)
  10. Emily (9)
  11. Eliza (8)
  12. Eleanor (8)
  13. Rebecca (6)
  14. Emma (6)
  15. Martha (6)
  16. Ellen (6)
  17. Isabella (5)
  18. Elenor (5)
  19. Alice (5)
  20. Elizth. (4)
  21. Louisa (4)
  22. Edith (3)
  23. Clara (3)
  24. Cathrine (3)
  25. Margret (2)
  26. Sophia (2)
  27. Margt. (2)
  28. Millicent (2)
  29. Charlotte (2)
  30. Christian (2)
  31. Ada (2)
  32. Katie (2)
  33. Lizzie (2)
  34. Lillian (1)
  35. Mabel (1)
  36. Janet (1)
  37. Kate (1)
  38. Isabel (1)
  39. Gertrude (1)
  40. Hannah (1)
  41. Susana (1)
  42. Amanda (1)
  43. Barbara (1)
  44. Beatrice (1)
  45. Cate (1)
  46. Cath. (1)
  47. Christiana (1)
  48. Edie (1)
  49. Amelia (1)
  50. Eliz. (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (106)
  2. Fisherman (46)
  3. Dressmaker (17)
  4. Farm Servant (Indoor) (8)
  5. Lead Miner (7)
  6. Ag Lab (5)
  7. Housekeeper (5)
  8. Fishermans Wife (5)
  9. Farm Labourer (5)
  10. Joiner (4)
  11. Farmers Son (4)
  12. Tailor (4)
  13. Annuitant (4)
  14. General Servant (4)
  15. Shoemaker (3)
  16. Schoolar (3)
  17. Baker (3)
  18. Farmer (3)
  19. Mariner (3)
  20. Dress Maker (3)
  21. Domestic Servant (3)
  22. (Grocer) Shop woman (3)
  23. Iron Ore Miner (3)
  24. ((Farmers Daughter)) (3)
  25. (Son) (3)
  26. Milliner (2)
  27. Farmers Wife (2)
  28. Farmers Daur (2)
  29. Farmer`s Daughter (2)
  30. Mariners Wife (2)
  31. Iron Miner (2)
  32. General Labourer (2)
  33. General Serv (2)
  34. General Servant (Dom) (2)
  35. Pupil Teacher (2)
  36. Farmer Wife (2)
  37. Bread Baker (2)
  38. ((Farmers Wife)) (2)
  39. Domestic Servant (Unemployed) (2)
  40. Labourer (2)
  41. Farmer of 16 Acres (2)
  42. Retired Farmer (2)
  43. Ship Painter (2)
  44. Farmer of 61 Acres (2)
  45. Agricultural Labourer (2)
  46. House & Ship Plumber (2)
  47. Marble Mason (2)
  48. (Daughter) (2)
  49. Blacksmith (2)
  50. ((Ag Lab's Wife)) (2)

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 446 people with the surname Callister in the county of Isle of Man in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.82% of the people in Isle of Man were called Callister.

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 Callister surname has an index of 407.64 in Isle of Man, meaning that you are 407.64 times as likely to find a Callister 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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