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 (12)
  2. George (7)
  3. John (6)
  4. Robert (6)
  5. William (5)
  6. Thomas (4)
  7. Alexander (4)
  8. Frederick (3)
  9. Samuel (2)
  10. Henry (2)
  11. Frank (2)
  12. David (2)
  13. Charles (2)
  14. Thos. (2)
  15. Andrew (2)
  16. Wm. (1)
  17. Percival (1)
  18. Oliver (1)
  19. Lindsey (1)
  20. Joseph (1)
  21. Adam (1)
  22. Benjamin (1)
  23. Alfred (1)
  24. Alexr. (1)
  25. Wm.E. (1)

Top female names

  1. Jane (7)
  2. Mary (7)
  3. Agnes (6)
  4. Elizabeth (3)
  5. Eliza (3)
  6. Lucy (3)
  7. Sarah (3)
  8. Barbara (2)
  9. Margaret (2)
  10. Edith (2)
  11. Alice (2)
  12. Amelia (2)
  13. Martha (1)
  14. Rose (1)
  15. Louise (1)
  16. Katherine (1)
  17. Kate (1)
  18. Miriam (1)
  19. Harriett (1)
  20. Hannah (1)
  21. Adelaide (1)
  22. Agness (1)
  23. Ann (1)
  24. Christina (1)
  25. Constance (1)
  26. Dorothy (1)
  27. Elizth. (1)
  28. Emily (1)
  29. Florence (1)
  30. Ada (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (33)
  2. Draper (6)
  3. Joiner (3)
  4. No Occupation (2)
  5. Drapers Assistant (2)
  6. Sch (2)
  7. Bricklayer Labourer (2)
  8. Painter (1)
  9. Wesleyan Minister Rhodes St Chapel (1)
  10. Millwright (1)
  11. Mason (1)
  12. Machinist (Und) (1)
  13. Laundress (1)
  14. Joiners Wife (1)
  15. Plumber (1)
  16. Police Constable (1)
  17. Washer Woman (1)
  18. Warehouse Porter (1)
  19. Travelling Drapers Wife (1)
  20. Travelling Draper (Coster) (1)
  21. Tinner (1)
  22. Tailor (1)
  23. Servant Dom (1)
  24. Pupil Teacher (1)
  25. Printer Apprentice (1)
  26. Porter Coal (1)
  27. Insurance Clerk (1)
  28. Indoor Serv (Dom) (1)
  29. Civil Assistant Ordnance Survey (C S Off) (1)
  30. Carpenter & Joiner (1)
  31. Carpenter (1)
  32. Book Keeper Wife (1)
  33. Book Keeper (1)
  34. Boat Builder (1)
  35. Boardinghouse Keeper (1)
  36. Assistant (Grocer) (1)
  37. Army Pensioner And Instructor Of Volunteers (1)
  38. Advertising Agent Wife (1)
  39. Clerk In Town Clerks Office (1)
  40. Commercial Clerk Cashier (1)
  41. Groom (1)
  42. Grocers Shopman (1)
  43. Felt Hat Trimmer (1)
  44. Farm Laborer (1)
  45. Factory Hand Packer (Cotton Ma) (1)
  46. Dressmaker Apprentice (1)
  47. Dressmaker (1)
  48. Domestic (1)
  49. Dom Servant (1)
  50. Commission Agent (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 63 people with the surname Corson in the county of Kirkcudbrightshire in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.15% of the people in Kirkcudbrightshire were called Corson.

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 Corson surname has an index of 144.86 in Kirkcudbrightshire, meaning that you are 144.86 times as likely to find a Corson 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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